With boating season just around the corner, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering environmental tips for owners as they prepare to take their watercraft out on Iowa’s lakes and rivers. State officials recommend boaters start by recycling the shrink wrap used to protect vessels during the winter by removing vents, straps or zippers from the plastic sections. Most marinas offer recycling programs for these materials. Many Iowans transport their boat to different waterways throughout the summer, but this practice carries the risk of transporting aquatic hitchhikers, such as invasive zebra mussels. The DNR recommends vessels by cleaned thoroughly and bilges drained before dropping into a new body of water. Nobody wants to encounter trash while out on the lake, so the DNR recommends boaters keep a receptacle on board to easily dispose of waste once they return to shore. The same is true concerning fuel in the water. Preventing spills is as easy as using an absorbent pads or bibs to mitigate overflow and paying attention during the fueling process. For more boating tips, visit www.iowadnr.com.
