Aquatic invasive species are a growing risk for national park resources and values. In the United States there are more than 250 non-native aquatic species from other continents and over 450 non-natives within North America that have been moved outside their native habitats!
Aquatic invasive species pose threats to parks, ecosystems, and visitors by:
- Outcompeting native species
- Threatening the safety of park employees and visitors
- Changing and degrading the experience of park visitors
- Requiring intensified maintenance and monitoring
- Altering natural ecological processes
Explore more information on removal and stories from parks below.
Removal and Prevention
Most often, removal of aquatic invasive species is difficult and expensive to do. For example, once a population of zebra quagga mussels is establised, eradication is impossible.Prevention is the best way to stop aquatic invasive species. This means that you can help the National Park Service by fishing and recreating responsibly. Make sure to clean, drain, and dry your boat and fishing gear. Although using live bait is sometimes necessary (and legal), dispose of unwanted live bait into trash cans and NEVER into waterways. Commercial boat haulers should always call before you haul to schedule inspections and prevent delays. Learn more tips on What You Can Do to prevent invasive species and watch the video below to learn more about clean, drain, dry.
Take the Clean, Drain, and Dry Steps
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Transcript
I want to take a minute to talk about how you can help protect Grand Canyon National Park. Introduced species that cause harm to the ecological health of an area are called invasive species.
These species can be plants, animals, or microbes and are usually spread by human activity. A common way for invasive species to be spread is on boats and other watercraft.
Recently, an invasive mussel was found in the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park. This particularly damaging invasive species is called the quagga mussel.
Adult mussels are about the size of your thumb nail, and immature mussels are microscopic.
Once introduced, the quagga mussel carpets underwater rock surfaces quickly.
These mussels disrupt food webs, clog water intakes and their sharp shells become a recreational hazard.
If we don’t clean boats and gear that have been in waters containing this mussel, we will unfortunately spread this invasive species throughout the Colorado River.
Everyone with a boat can help by taking three easy steps: Clean, Drain and Dry.
These steps should be part of every river trip.
Clean means to go around the boat and remove any visible mud or plants and also to take a bucket or hose and rinse the hull and interior of any standing water or debris.
Drain means to allow all water to drain out of the boat and any equipment.
Dry means that the boat and all equipment should be completely dry before launching on your next trip.
Whether you have a dory, raft or kayak – you can move water and invasive species with your boat and gear.
Every single boat that arrives at Grand Canyon to float should arrive clean.
At the end of your trip you should be sure to clean, drain and dry your boat and all gear before heading out on a new waterway.
Grand Canyon National Park takes a number of precautions to ensure that river trips are safe, fun and protect the uniqueness of Grand Canyon. But we all need to help to protect this precious river. Take the Clean Drain Dry steps before and after every boating trip!
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- Duration:
- 2 minutes, 24 seconds
Recently, an invasive mussel was found in the Colorado River through Grand Canyon National Park. This particularly damaging invasive species is called the quagga mussel. If we don’t clean boats and gear that have been in waters containing this mussel, we will unfortunately spread this invasive species throughout the Colorado River. Everyone with a boat can help by taking three easy steps: Clean, Drain and Dry.
Marine invasive species
Learn more about invasive aquatic species in the ocean.
Aquatic Invasive Species
Showing results 1-10 of 21
While boating, floating, and fishing are wonderful ways to spend the afternoon, people can unknowingly introduce harmful aquatic hitchhikers that can hide in and on boats and equipment. But there’s a simple way to prevent the spread... clean, drain, dry.
- Locations: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Meet Diana Greymountain, Glen Canyon's Special Use Permit Coordinator!
- Biscayne National Park
Series: Resource Management Efforts in Biscayne
- Type: Series
- Locations: Biscayne National Park
In a park that is 95% open water, many conservation efforts take place beneath the waves.
- Biscayne National Park
Lionfish in Biscayne National Park
- Locations: Biscayne National Park
Information about the state of lionfish presence in Biscayne National Park, their effect on the park, and the park's year-to-year efforts to mitigate and manage the population of this invasive fish species.
- Amistad National Recreation Area
Aquatic Invasive Species
- Locations: Amistad National Recreation Area
Join Ranger Kierra as she shares about the crucial roles that Mussel Dogs; Clean, Drain, Dry; education; early detection; and you play in preventing aquatic invasive species invasions at Amistad National Recreation Area and other parks and waterways.
- Biscayne National Park
Outside Science (inside parks): Hunting Lionfish in Biscayne National Park
- Locations: Biscayne National Park
Scientists in Biscayne National Park work to keep an invasive fish from taking over the beautiful ecosystem.
- Wild and Scenic Rivers Program
Powerful Partnerships: Pawtuckaway Lake Improvement Association Gets Grant from the Lamprey River Advisory Committee to Help Fund and Remove Invasive Variable Milfoil
- Offices: Wild and Scenic Rivers Program
Pawtuckaway Lake Improvement Association gets grant from the Lamprey Advisory Committee to find and remove this invasive freshwater plant.
- Locations: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Grand Portage National Monument, Isle Royale National Park, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Lake Superior was once thought to be inhospitable to zebra and quagga mussels because of it’s cold water and low calcium levels, yet they have been found in the waters of Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in recent investigations. What is the National Park Service doing, and what can you do to help?
Zebra mussels are armed with root-like threads of protein, called "byssal threads," that allow them to firmly attach themselves to hard surfaces such as rocks, native species, docks, or boats.
There are over three million lakes and 12,000 rivers in Alaska, many of which harbor prime habitat for an invasive aquatic plant, Elodea. Alaska’s parks encompass a substantial portion of this habitat and include some of Alaska’s most iconic lakes and rivers. While no infestations have yet been found in parks, we are developing detection methods and monitoring so we can address it early, if we find it. Alaska Park Science 19(1):2020.
Last updated: March 15, 2022