This year’s Fourth of July celebrations will see the peak of aquatic activity as boaters and fishermen hit the states waterways. In their ongoing effort to protect Iowa’s lakes and streams, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reminding anyone using boats to make sure they check them for unwanted hitchhikers. This includes everything from zebra mussels to Eurasion watermilfoil that can get moved from one body of water to another on boats, in bait buckets or other equipment used in the water. “Aquatic invasive species can create serious problems for Iowa waters by reducing native species and making lakes and rivers unusable by boaters, anglers and swimmers,” says aquatic invasive species coordinator, Kim Bogenschutz. Everyone is asked to clean any plants, animals or mud from the boat and equipment, drain water from the motor, live well, bilge and transom before leaving the water and to dry anything that comes into contact with the water after each use. It is illegal to possess or transport prohibited aquatic invasive species. More information can be found in the 2017 Iowa Fishing Regulations booklet.
