Invasive species carried on canoes?

[Glenn MacGrady]

Does this happen? Where? And what kind of species?

It certainly seems possible. What prompted my interest was THIS ARTICLE on the golden mussels danger to Lake Tahoe.

"Last weekend, watercraft inspectors found golden mussels, a highly invasive aquatic species, on a 45-foot boat that was headed to Lake Tahoe. Experts say golden mussels pose an extreme threat to Lake Tahoe. To stop the mussels from getting into the lake, this spring, Tahoe implemented much stricter measures that go beyond the norm, requiring that every single motorized boat not just be inspected but also be decontaminated before hitting the water."

"Officials found golden mussels for the first time in North America last October, in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Golden mussels are known to be voracious filter feeders and can increase the nutrients in a lake, which leads to algae growth."

"While Tahoe officials have increased the protocol for motorized watercraft, experts are also concerned the mussels could get into Lake Tahoe by hitching a ride on a kayak, a stand-up paddleboard or even a floatie. That means anyone could bring the invasive species into the lake."

I believe New York State has a strict inspection and steam cleaning program before canoes and other paddlecraft can launch onto a state reservoir.

 

[Alan Gage]

While a lot less likely I could see it happening. Attached to the outside of the hull seems less likely in most circumstances since canoes and kayaks aren't generally sitting in the water for long periods of time but I can see invasive plants being lodged in skegs and rudders. Or even non-invasive vegetation that could have other invasive species on it.

Someone that's fishing from their canoe could have an anchor or rope with a hose of baddies on it.

There's no end to what could be inside a canoe or kayak. Especially a kayak where the foot area is much less accessible. It would be easy enough to bring something in on your shoes.

Alan

 

[yknpdlr]

NYS does have strict rules about mandatory inspection of boats going from one watershed to another. Mainly primarily directed to motorboat craft. Baitwells and trailers tend to collect bits of aquatic vegetation, and it only takes a tiny fragment of some to spread to an entirely new region of lakes. Eurasian Milfoil tends to be the biggest concern, but there are several others, including some types of clams and mussels. At the gateway road entries to the Adirondacks there are wash stations manned by trained paid operators and volunteers who will inspect boats and trailers for free, including a 140F and 120F high pressure spray wash. Paddle craft may also get treated, but I think few do. Not a bad summer gig for a HS student with nothing else to do, earning $24/hr to sit in the sunshine all day and only occasionally getting a little wet. At the beach and paddle entry points of my camp lake (a no motors lake) are signs and bleach spray bottles for paddler's use.

During the annual 90 mile canoe race through the Adirondacks, at every portage that you transport from one watershed into another, inspectors carefully look over every boat that goes by, including inside canoes (vegetation may be wrapped around seats, etc.), wheeled carts, inside of kayak cockpits and also if anything is on paddler's shoes.
As I run by, I usually tell the inspector that the boat coming up immediately behind me is loaded with milfoil and needs to be halted for an extensive cleaning.

Next week I go to a two day state funded workshop for identifying unwanted aquatic invasives, to be followed next month by an on water collection sampling methods and ID lesson with my canoe.

At my camp lake i am on the board of directors and chairman of the newly formed (by me) of the Lake Management and Protection Committee. I have subtitled it the S....(lake name) Aquatic Vegetation Environment - Inspection Team (SAVE-IT)

 

[Mason]

Throughout the West there are invasive species check stations, usually near state lines, and I get checked 2-3 times on the highway between home and my daughter's (Montana, Idaho and Washington). Although they do check the canoe(s), if they're dry and haven't been in a known source, I'm good to go. I actually got stopped by Highway Patrol once for blowing past one in Idaho (saw it too late). They'd probably spend more time checking my sea kayak with its bulkheads.

 

[recped]

Yes it happens, usually not because of canoes but it is definitely possible.

In the Great Lakes the major issue is zebra mussels. It's very easy to transport zebra mussels into the lakes north of Superior.

Zebra and Quagga Mussels – Profile | Invasive Species Centre

Zebra and Quagga mussels are invasive freshwater mussels throughout the Great Lakes. They are, on average, around two centimeters and do not sit flat.

www.invasivespeciescentre.ca

 

[Ober27]

I was a Watercraft Inspector for a few summers as I eased into retirement.
We inspected canoes and gave out educational materials to the paddlers, but there's not as many concerns with the transport of aquatic invasive with a canoe. It can happen, but certainly less likely.
However, not all paddlecraft are created equal.
Recreational kayaks are definitely more likely to unknowingly transport aquatic invasive. Many people buy the small Recreational kayaks because they're easy to transport. They often haul them upright on a utility trailer or in the back of a pickup truck. They drag them out of the lake and onto the trailer without tipping them over to drain the lakewater out. If there's a quart of water in the kayak and they go to another lake, it's very possible that they are transporting thousands of the microscopic Zebra Mussel Veligers, or Starry Stonewort or one of many other invasive species.
Get rid of all water, use a sponge.
Get rid of all mud that can harbor invasive species.
Clean off all aquatic vegetation.
Don't mean to preach, but i love our lakes and rivers. It's upsetting when one of your favorite bodies of water becomes infested.

 

[Gamma1214]

Preach on. I'm not a lake jumper as my time on the water is severely limited (so boats are dry before launching again) but I can't think anyone would want to spread invasives. I suppose that we could research protocols but it might be easier to just have them repeatedly hammered into our thick skulls like the LNT stuff has been.

Along those lines, is completely dry & vegetation free sufficient?

 

[yknpdlr]

Along those lines, is completely dry & vegetation free sufficient?

i was told that naturally dry (completely really dry) for two full weeks is necessary.

 

[Ober27]

Pressure washing with 140° water is the ultimate way to kill everything, but i wouldn't even consider doing that to any of my canoes.
Simply giving the boat a thorough rinse with a garden hose when you get home goes a long way towards preventing the spread.

 

[yknpdlr]

Pressure washing with 140° water is the ultimate way to kill everything, but i wouldn't even consider doing that to any of my canoes.
Simply giving the boat a thorough rinse with a garden hose when you get home goes a long way towards preventing the spread.

That's why they also offer the option of 120F water. 140F is what they use on trailers, and on motors themselves or on large heavy motorboat hulls at the owner's discretion. I sat in on a local training session and demo just to see what it was about.

 

[Ober27]

It's been a few years since I was involved, at that time I wasn't aware of the 120 degree option. Things have maybe changed.

 

[Gamma1214]

OK, wait... Sorry Glenn but, at the risk of (further?) derailing this thread...

140° F is straight "hot" from the water heater. Now, I paddle strippers & wouldn't hesitate to hose them down with hot tap water (if I ever washed them) but could that temperature damage some hull materials?

I can call Mike at Raka tomorrow but I'm almost positive that he said their epoxy was stable to 200° F. (A dark hull sitting on a beach in August would probably get over 180)

 

[ppine]

Canoes usually get stored out of the water and upside down between trips. That means they are stored dry. Sometimes a little water can remain in the ends. Few species of any kind can survive in a dry environment. Power boat and sail boat bilges on larger boats are a much worse problem and source of contamination.

A one time boat inspection at L Tahoe for my 19 foot power boat cost $75, plus you have to pay to launch. I just quit taking boats to Lake Tahoe. The towns up there are pretty reactionary about protecting the lake from not only exotic species, but sediment and lots of other things. It is hard to get a permit to cut even one tree on your own private property. The place is full of tourists in winter and summer. The shoulder seasons are best.

The Lake is beautiful and there are some good restaurants. I will be going up on a week day for my birthday in 2 weeks. The regulations and the drunk tourists make it challenging. There used to be good concerts up there, but now they are few and far between.

 

[Ober27]

I'm curious to hear what you learn from Raka regarding safe temperature for their epoxy.
I thought West System said that 140° was the temperature at wich potential damage could occur, I could be wrong. I need to do some research on that.
I didn't know residential water heaters could go that hot, 120° is scalding to skin, assumed that's where they maxed out.

 

[Black_Fly]

Not a problem in Ohio because the water is so filthy most canoeists wash their canoes right after paddling.

 

[eckilson]

It is a huge issue around here. A great example is hydrilla in the Connecticut River

Hydrilla is new around here, and particularly difficult to eradicate - takes chemical treatment.

We have been fighting a losing battle with water chestnut for years. Here is a picture of Valley Falls Marsh near my house. It was completely covered with water chestnut. You can see green and black stripes where mechanical harvesters went in to attempt to remove the water chestnut. It is a huge and expensive project, and if you don't pull the water chestnut before it drops seeds it will simply grow back the next year.



Back to the original question - I agree that motor boats are more like to be the culprit than canoes or kayaks. Even with paddle craft, the the recommendation around here is to wash not just your boat, but also your boots and gear with hot soapy water after paddling. I am getting better at it - at least if I know I am in a area that is contaminated with invasives.

 

[yknpdlr]

I didn't know residential water heaters could go that hot, 120° is scalding to skin, assumed that's where they maxed out.

The 6 year old water heater at my camp tops out at 140. The designated boat wash stations have a setting of 120 or 140, setable by the operator. The one near me gets its hot water from a former school kitchen water heater.

 

[eckilson]

Along those lines, is completely dry & vegetation free sufficient?

Not sure about dry - it depends on the invasive. You could still transport seeds or rhizomes that sprout and grow once they are back in the water.

 

[yknpdlr]

The mantra is " Clean, Drain, Dry"

From NYSDEC:

Clean, Drain, Dry

All boaters operating any kind of motorized watercraft in the Adirondack Park and within ten miles of the Blue Line are required by law to possess certification that, before launching, their vessel has undergone measures to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species by following the...

dec.ny.gov

"Boating in the Adirondacks?

Special Notice for Boaters in the Adirondack Park and Within Ten Miles of the Blue Line
All boaters operating any kind of motorized watercraft in the Adirondack Park and within ten miles of the Blue Line are required by law to possess certification that, before launching, their vessel has undergone measures to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species by following the Clean.Drain.Dry. standards described in NYS Regulation (6 NYCRR Part 576). These certificates can be acquired by visiting a DEC designated aquatic invasive species inspection station where boat stewards are present to inspect or decontaminate vessels and to provide boaters with a certification card. Alternately, boaters may perform Clean.Drain.Dry. steps themselves and then complete a self-issued certificate (PDF) which is to be printed and carried by boat users. Learn more about this regulation on our Invasive Species Regulations page.

Oregon takes it step further with paddlecraft:

www.oregoninvasiveshotline.org

 

[ppine]

Oregon does a good job with keeping boats clean. You have to buy a sticker for running rivers but only costs $7.