Preventing Invaders
Quebec has a large number of lakes and rivers. During boating season, many recreational boaters like to take their watercraft out on several different bodies of water. A boat should always be cleaned before it is moved from one lake or river to another in order to minimize the risk of transporting aquatic invasive species to an uninvaded waterbody.
You can help prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species so that they do not cause serious problems. There are three important steps that you should follow.
Clean
Remove all visible vegetation, debris and mud from the watercraft. Wash the propeller, hull, rudder and all equipment that comes in contact with the water, including paddles, personal flotation devices (PFD) and the trailer.
Drain
Drain all the water from the boat, including the livewell, storage compartments, the hold and the motor.
Dry
Dry all of the equipment, including the ropes, fenders, oars, paddles and personal flotation devices (PFD), until there is no water left anywhere on the inside or outside of the watercraft.
- For maximum efficiency, it is recommended that you use a pressure washer with hot water (60o C) to clean the boat and all equipment that has been exposed to the water.
- Ideally, you should wash the watercraft and all equipment 30 m away from any watercourse to ensure that the wash water (and any invasive species) does not end up in the water body.
- Make sure there is no water left in any internal compartments, such as coolers, livewells, storage areas, the motor or the hold.
- For optimal drying, let the watercraft and equipment air dry in the sun for five days. If that’s not possible, be sure to wipe all areas with a towel.
- To find a watercraft cleaning station, check out the interactive map of Québec's watercraft cleaning stations on the Atlas de l’eau (French only) or Forêt ouverte (French only).
Clean, Drain, and Dry your boat before and after you visit a new waterbody!
It’s essential and easy to get on board!