Aquatic invasive species spread easily between lakes and rivers , often by hitchhiking on boats, trailers, and gear. Once introduced, they can damage ecosystems, impact recreation, and create long-term economic costs.
Whether you’re paddling, fishing, wakeboarding, or launching a motorized vessel, you play a critical role in protecting local waterways across the Columbia Shuswap region.
What You Can Do: Clean — Drain — Dry
Follow these three essential steps every time you move between waterbodies:
1. Clean
- Inspect and clean all watercraft, trailers, and equipment on dry land away from storm water drains, ditches and waterways
- Remove all mud, sand and plant materials before leaving the shore. Rinse or wash your boat and equipment away from storm drains, ditches or waterways
- Some aquatic invasive species are very small such as invasive mussels and can be found in small amounts of water, mud or dirt. Pay attention to hidden, hard to reach areas, gaps, crevices, holes and other inconspicuous places
2. Drain
- Before leaving a waterbody, drain all water on dry land (including all internal compartments such as ballasts, bilges, and live wells), coolers, life jackets and other gear
- Raise and lower outboard engines several times to ensure all water has drained out
- Drain non-motorized watercraft by inverting or tilting the watercraft, opening compartments and removing seats if necessary
- Pull the plug! In B.C., it is illegal to transport watercraft (including boats, kayaks, canoes and paddle boards), water-related equipment or aircraft on land, unless all drainage holes, valves or other devices used to drain water are left open or unplugged
3. Dry
- Watercraft and equipment must be completely dry before entering new waters and this includes allowing all wet areas to air dry completely
- Leave compartments open on boats and equipment
Watercraft Inspections in BC
In British Columbia, watercraft inspections help prevent invasive mussels from entering the province.
Decontamination is applied when there is an identified risk that a conveyance (either watercraft or water equipment) may be transporting aquatic invasive species. The Provincial conservation officers are trained at identifying and treating the risk of transporting aquatic invasive species through specified decontamination procedures.
Invasive mussels decontamination procedures involve hot water with specific contact times to kill the mussels and high pressure to remove them.
Report Invasive Mussels
Any suspected, transport, possession, sale or release of invasive mussels should be reported immediately to the Conservation Officer Services Report All Poachers and Polluters: 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP).
