Whether you raft, kayak, fish or swim in Western waters, you can make sure quagga mussels — and other aquatic invasives — don’t travel with you. Here’s how.

Before leaving any body of water:
• Inspect your boat, trailer, clothing and any other wet gear
for plants, fish or animals, and remove them on site.
• Wash off mud and dirt, which can carry tiny mussel larvae.
Clean people and equipment — and don’t forget the dog!
• Eliminate all water from all equipment, including motors,
live wells, boat hulls, scuba regulators, bait buckets and boots.
• Clean your equipment with salt water or hot water
(above 104 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Dip gear that can’t be exposed to hot water in vinegar for
20 minutes, or soak it in a salt solution for 24 hours (see
protectyourwaters.net for recipes).
• Don’t dump unused bait in the water.


Before launching into new waters, allow equipment to dry. Five days of drying is ideal.

—M.N.

Source: protectyourwaters.net