Michigan Lake and Stream Associations is proud to announce that it has entered a formal partnership with Michigan State University Extension with funding support from the Departments of Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, and Agriculture and Rural Development administered Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program to re-vitalize the Michigan Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program.
Formerly funded, managed and operated by the Ann Arbor based Michigan Sea Grant program, the primarily citizen volunteer Clean Boats, Clean Waters program is dedicated to protecting Michigan’s water resources by educating boaters about aquatic invasive species that are often transported from one water body to another by recreational watercraft and by teaching operators and owners how to inspect their boats, trailers and associated gear for invasive species and by demonstrating the proper technique for removing potentially harmful aquatic plant and animal species. Michigan joins several other Great Lakes region states including Indiana, Minnesota, New York and Wisconsin that currently administer pro-active Clean Boats, Clean Waters programs.
Michigan Lake and Stream Associations and Michigan State University Extension encourages inland lake communities and/or other interested groups to consider holding a Clean Boats, Clean Waters workshop in their area that will serve to prepare and equip local volunteers to teach recreational boaters using local public boat launches simple, yet effective techniques to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
For more information regarding the Michigan Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program, visit the program’s new web resource at www.micbcw.org. To discuss the possibility of holding a Clean Boats, Clean Waters workshop in your community, contact Beth Clawson, MSU Extension Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program Educator at 269-330-5554 or via e-mail at clawsonb@anr.msu.edu.