If it’s been in the water, it could be contaminated by aquatic invasive species (AIS). Practicing Clean, Drain, Dry with all your gear, equipment, and watercraft is key to preventing accidental transportation of AIS.
Clean
All gear, equipment, and watercraft used on or in the water should be cleaned before leaving the water access area. Cleaning before you leave ensures that potential hitchhikers are left behind.
Step 1: Remove all visible mud, plants, and organisms. A stuff bristle brush can help clean treads and small spaces. Refer to WDFW’s cleaning checklist for help.
Step 2: Rinse all surfaces with drinking water. If it’s safe to drink, it should be AIS free.
Drain
Step 3: Remove all drain plugs and dump all accumulated water.
For watercraft, this includes the motor, bilge, live-well, and all other water containing devices such as bait tanks. Don’t forget gear like buckets and dispose of all water used in cleaning properly. Remember – drain before leaving the water access to prevent spreading AIS.
Forgot step 3 and already left the access? You can still safely drain and dump all accumulated water in an area that won’t drain into a new waterbody.
Dry
Step 4: Open and towel dry compartments on watercraft or gear.
Step 5: Before moving to a new waterbody, let your gear, equipment, and watercraft fully dry.
Decontamination
Find something suspicious or know you’ve been in waters suspected or known to be infested with AIS? Decontamination is the best way to ensure you’re not accidently transporting AIS. There are multiple ways to decontaminate your gear, equipment, and watercraft.
Drying
Once gear is fully dry, keep it dry for an additional 48 hours before using it again. This kills AIS that can’t survive out of the water.
Hot water
AIS are temperature sensitive and pressure washing or soaking in hot water will decontaminate gear, equipment, and watercraft. If using hot water to decontaminate, do not let it drain into a waterbody. Native species are also temperature sensitive.
Be careful, water over 120 degrees can cause burns or scalds, so use proper protective equipment when working with hot water.
Hard, non-porous surface
- Temperature (minimum): 140 degrees
- Constant exposure time: 15 seconds
- Examples: engines, trailers, shovels
Porous surfaces
- Temperature (minimum): 120 degrees
- Constant exposure time: 5 minutes
- Examples: boots, waders, nets
- Method is not recommended for items made of Gore-tex
Freeze
Freeze your gear for at least 8 hours at 14 degrees Fahrenheit, or for at least 24 hours at 15-32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Chemical
Chemical treatments that decontaminate your gear of AIS can also threaten native species. Use chemical treatments in an area with access to a sewage drain. Don’t allow chemical treatments or rinse water to flow into waterbodies or storm drains.
Always follow label instructions and use proper protective equipment when handling chemicals. For more information, contact the manufacturer or visit their website. This method may cause surface cracking of rubber or loss of water repellence.
Process
- Soak gear in undiluted antibacterial Formula 409 for 10 minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly in a contained area. Rinse water must be disposed of down a sewage drain, not a storm drain.
WDFW does not recommend other chemicals (including salt water) as there are no published scientific studies showing effectiveness or potential effects on gear.
Clean, Drain, Dry stations and mobile unit
WDFW and the Washington Invasive Species Council have partnered to offer Clean, Drain, Dry, Dispose (CD3) stations at several boat launches in Eastern Washington, as well as a mobile CD3 unit available for events and fishing tournaments.
To learn more or reserve the mobile CD3 unit, please visit this webpage. More information also available in this 2022 blog post and in this printable half-page flier (PDF) (PDF).
Or learn more about WDFW's watercraft inspection stations.