As the summer boating season hits its stride, authorities in Washington are doubling down on their calls to boaters across the state to be vigilant about invasive species by adopting the "Clean, Drain, and Dry" mantra. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFF), alongside the Washington Invasive Species Council, urges residents to take preventive measures to protect the state's waters from the perils of uninvited flora and fauna, particularly the likes of Eurasian milfoil and potentially, the dreaded zebra and quagga mussels, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
"We need your help to protect Washington waters," Stephanie Helms, the executive coordinator for the Washington Invasive Species Council stressed, as per the WDFW. A simple routine of cleaning, draining, and drying boats and gear can hinder invasive species, which threaten not only the biodiversity of Washington's ecosystems but also its hydropower and water infrastructure. Alongside the already-present nuisance of Eurasian milfoil, which can overwhelm native habitats, looming threats such as quagga and zebra mussels have commanded state and federal attention, bringing in a $3.6 million budget boost for monitoring and response initiatives.
Echoing Bush's sentiment, WDFW underscores the high stakes, with estimations highlighting that an invasion by these mussels could ravage state expenses to the tune of over $100 million a year for hydropower and water infrastructure maintenance alone. The Annual situation is such that the department has bolstered its prevention strategies, which include operating watercraft check stations where more than 58,000 watercraft were inspected in 2024, catching and decontaminating 25 mussel-fouled boats. Any discovery of aquatic invasive species should be reported by calling 1-888-WDFW-AIS or emailing [email protected].
