Fighting Invasive Species

How to Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species

• Inspect your boat, trailer, and equipment and remove any visible plants, animals, or mud before leaving a waterbody.
• Drain water from your boat, motor, live well and bilge before leaving a waterbody.
• Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash. Never release fish, animals or plants into a waterbody unless they came from that waterbody.
• Rinse or dry your boat, trailer, and fishing equipment to remove or kill species that were not visible when you left a waterbody. Before transporting to another waterbody, rinse with high pressure and/or hot (104 degrees) water, or dry for at least five days.
• Learn to identify aquatic nuisance species and report any suspected sightings to the nearest DNR fisheries station.
  • Invasive Fish
  • Aquatic Invasive Plants
  • Aquatic Invasive Invertebrates

Aquatic Invasive Species Law

• It is illegal to possess, introduce, purchase, sell, or transport aquatic invasive species in Iowa.
• It is illegal to transport aquatic plants attached to or within water-related equipment, including boats, trailers, bait containers, live wells, ballast tanks, and bilge areas.
• All water must be drained from water-related equipment when leaving a water access (this includes live wells and bait buckets). Drain plugs, bailers and valves must remain removed or open during transport.
• It is illegal to introduce any live fish, except for hooked bait, into public waters.
• Frequently Asked Questions about the Aquatic Invasive Species Law
  

Iowa DNR Aquatic Invasive Species Program

• Vegetation surveys to detect new infestations of aquatic invasive plants.
• Management of invasive aquatic plant infestations.
• Statewide watercraft inspections.
• Zebra mussel dive surveys on infested lakes to study population dynamics.
• Zebra mussel sampling on interior rivers and lakes to detect infestations.
• Educational outreach with boaters, schools and user groups.

• Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers
• Vegetation ID
• USGS Invasive Species
• Habitattitude

It is illegal to transport aquatic plants & invasive species in boats and equipment.

All water must be drained from boats and equipment before leaving a water access.

Drain plugs must remain open during transport.

Report a Possible AIS
Should you find a possible aquatic invasive species, please report it: