OutdoorNebraska

20 | Fishing Info: 402-471-0641 AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PROGRAM Aquatic invasive species fees collected from boaters fund the Aquatic Invasive Species Program in Nebraska. These fees pay for programs to educate the public about AIS, efforts to keep AIS from being introduced, such as monitoring state waters; inspection and decontamination of conveyances; treatment for AIS populations; and other AIS projects as needed. AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PREVENTION Aquatic Invasive Species – Any waterborne, non-native organism that threatens the diversity or abundance of native species, the ecological stability of impacted waters, or commercial, agricultural, aquacultural or recreational activities. CLEAN, DRAIN AND DRY Zebra and quagga mussels can survive out of water for up to two weeks. AIS, such as zebra mussels, are invisible to the naked eye during the larval stage and can be spread through single drops of water, surviving for up to 27 days in cooler temperatures. Aquatic plants can be spread by tiny fragments as well. After boating and before launching your boat in a different water body: • Clean watercraft and equipment by removing all vegetation, debris, mud and mussels. If possible, rinse boat and all equipment with high-pressure, hot tap water. • If washing the boat away from the water body you are leaving, do not allow runoff to enter a drainage. Control your runoff. • Drain watercraft entirely before leaving the water body by removing plugs from bilge, live wells and engine. Trim engine down and allow it to drain. • Dry boat and all equipment for at least five days. Use a towel to dry initially. • Visit stopaquatichitchhikers.org or OutdoorNebraska.gov/ aquaticinvasivespecies for more information on procedures and AIS on watercraft. AIS watercraft inspectors are present at several Nebraska water bodies from May through October to ensure compliance with Game and Parks regulations. When an inspector is present, it is mandatory to stop and comply with an AIS inspection. INSPECTIONS • An authorized inspector is approved by the Commission to require and conduct inspection of any conveyance that may contain or carry an Aquatic Invasive Species as permitted by law. • It is the responsibility of the owner of the conveyance to reimburse any costs related to the decontamination procedure. • If the Commission requires by regulations that an inspection is required prior to launching or attempting to launch a conveyance Aquatic Invasive Species on any property owned or operated by the Commission, it shall be unlawful to launch or attempt to launch without an inspection. Any person operating a conveyance may be ordered to remove the conveyance from the water or any launch area by any conservation officer or peace officer if there is probable cause to believe that the conveyance was not properly inspected prior to launch or may otherwise contain AIS. Once removed from the water or launch area, the conveyance shall be subject to inspection for the removal and disposal of AIS. • Decontamination of a conveyance takes place when all AIS, soil, plants and organisms are removed or destroyed. This will be accomplished by: • washing the exterior and intakes using water at least 140 degrees F and a minimum pressure of five gallons/minute with 3,000 pounds/square inch, or • removing the conveyance from any water body or boat launch area for 30 days. • After a conveyance has been inspected and the decontamination determined to be incomplete, the conveyance may be removed from any water body or launch area for 30 days. AIS CATEGORIES Category 1 – Potential Aquatic Invasive Species; including quagga mussel; Category 2 – Priority AIS, including silver carp, bighead carp, white perch, zebra mussel, curly-leaf pondweed and Eurasian watermilfoil; Report Suspected AIS Observations For questions, or to report any suspected AIS observations, contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's aquatic invasive species program manager at 402-471-7602 or ngpc. ais@nebraska.gov. A Game and Parks watercraft inspector looks for aquatic hitchhikers like zebra mussels and invasive plants on a boat preparing to launch at Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area.

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