NH LAKES kicks off the 19th season helping boaters prevent the spread of invasive species

CONCORD — With Memorial Day weekend — the unofficial start of summer — upon us, NH LAKES has announced that its Lake Host courtesy boat inspectors have been classified as providing essential services under recent orders issued by Governor Sununu. For the 19th summer, the organization’s nearly 800 Lake Hosts are teaching boaters at 100 of the busiest boat ramps throughout the state how to clean their boats to prevent the spread of invasive species. This summer, they will be wearing cloth masks and maintaining at least six feet of distance from others to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, too.

Approximately 90 New Hampshire waterbodies contain infestations of invasive species that can clog boat motors and propellers, making boating unpleasant and difficult. Invasive species can make swimming dangerous and are difficult and expensive to manage. And, they are nearly impossible to get rid of once firmly established in a waterbody. Thanks to the efforts of Lake Hosts, the rate of spread of invasive plants — including milfoil — from lake to lake in New Hampshire has slowed over the past 18 years. The primary way invasive species spread is on boats that have not been thoroughly cleaned, drained, and dried between waterbodies.

NH LAKES asks that all boaters take the following simple steps after taking their boat out of the water:

CLEAN: Clean off all mud, plants, animals, and debris from your boat, trailer, and gear. Clean off anchors and anchor lines, water intake grates on jet-powered craft, kayak and canoe cockpits, storage compartments, and paddles, too! Dispose of all material away from the lake where it won’t wash back into the water. Cleaning is the law in New Hampshire!

DRAIN: Drain the motor, bilge, live wells, ballast tanks, storage compartments, and gear. Blow out water in jet-powered craft and tip paddle craft and motors to let out water. Drain all equipment in an area where the water won’t flow back into the lake. OPEN/REMOVE drain plugs and keep out/open while trailering. Draining is the law in New Hampshire!

DRY: If possible, wait at least five days before launching into the lake again. If you don’t have five days, dry off everything that came in contact with the water — a towel will work.

“This boating season, we know that most boaters are probably more excited than ever to get out onto the lake,” commented Andrea LaMoreaux, NH LAKES Vice President of Programs and Operations. “We just ask that boaters take care to keep their distance between Lake Hosts and other boaters when at the ramp this summer.”

For more information, visit nhlakes.org, email info@nhlakes.org, or call 603.226.0299