Problem:
The Columbia River Basin provides critical habitat and water resources for the State of Washington and the region. While the state has a robust decontamination program to address interstate movement of zebra/quagga mussels, little infrastructure is available to address intra-state movement of aquatic invasive species (AIS). Additionally, human and financial resources to address this problem are limited.
Goals:
This project aimed to bolster financial and human resources for the region and implement long-term cleaning infrastructure that empowers the public to reduce the spread of AIS by spurring the adoption of cleaning, draining, and drying practices.
CD3 partnered with Wildlife Forever (WF), a national conservation organization that has led the Clean Drain Dry Public Service Campaign for more than 15 years. In 2019, WF entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Park Service to enhance federal coordination of AIS prevention on public lands and accesses. In partnership with state, federal, and industry stakeholders, WF created a shovel-ready solution to enhance boat accesses by combining education with the installation of CD3 Systems. CD3 Systems provide self-service cleaning resources to empower boaters to clean, drain, and dry their boats properly. Waterless infrastructure has two critical advantages: it eliminates the need for costly water catchments and water treatment, and boaters operate the cleaning stations themselves, requiring no additional trained staff.
Methods:
Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, WF applied for and received a grant from the USFWS to coordinate with crucial Columbia River Basin stakeholders, identify boat accesses needing enhancements, and install CD3 Systems at strategic sites. Furthermore, WF identified partners who could take on long-term operations and equipment maintenance. Thus, WF was able to provide critical human and financial resources to support AIS prevention in the basin.
Results:
The project has facilitated improvements at over 20 access points by installing 14 CD3 Systems. WF donated the installed units to stakeholders for long-term operations. This partnership enabled the donation of over $250,000 in infrastructure in the State of Washington.
Implementation:
As AIS continue to spread, implementing AIS prevention infrastructure is essential. State, federal, and local governments are all working to mitigate the risks and associated liability of AIS spread, and CD3 cleaning systems are proven to reduce the risk of that spread. Furthermore, as we know, “Everybody likes a clean boat.”
To learn more, contact us at stopAIS@cd3systems.com, call 612-568-8310, or visit https://www.cd3systems.com/
