Aquatic Invasive Species

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are animals and plants that are not native to Iowa and cause environmental, economic, and human harm. These species can be introduced and spread through a variety of activities including boating, fishing, aquarium ownership, and water gardening.

Learn more about invasive species threatening Iowa.

Fish

Invertebrates

Plants

Prevent the Spread of Aquatic 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 invasive species and report any suspected sightings to the nearest DNR fisheries station.

Report AIS

If you find a possible aquatic invasive species, please report it to george.scholten@dnr.iowa.gov.

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.

AIS Permits

For information about permits to transport or possess aquatic invasive species or to transport aquatic plants or water from lakes and rivers, contact the AIS Program Coordinator. 

Transporting Curly-leaf Pondweed - Clear Lake Residents

• Curly-leaf Pondweed Facts (174.11 KB) .pdf
• Shoreland Homeowner General Permit
• Commercial Entities General Permit

Additional Resources

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

Contact Information

Aquatic Invasive Species Program
Boone Research Station
1436 255th Street
Boone, IA 50036

Invasive (Non-Aquatic) Plants

The Forest Invasive Species Guide is published in cooperation with the Iowa DNR and USDA Forest Service as part of the Healthy Forests in the Cedar Iowa Corridor Landscape Scale Restoration grant. The pocket guide highlights 19 invasive trees, shrubs, and plants. It includes quick ID photos and text as well as common management techniques for controlling each species.