Aquatic invasive species are easily spread by some of our favorite water activities, like boating and fishing. You can protect your favorite waterways by taking three simple steps, clean, drain and dry your watercraft before entering a new waterbody.

Aquatic invasive species can easily hitchhike on your boat, inside your motor or bilge, on your trailer, and on other equipment. Be sure to flush out your motor, drain and disinfect your bilge, and inspect everything before launching to avoid introducing a new aquatic invasive species to the area. 

You can also help protect your waters by keeping an eye out for aquatic invasive species and reporting observations while you enjoy the water.  

Check out the slides below to learn of aquatic invasive species that are threatening the St. Lawrence Eastern Lake Ontario region.  If you encounter aquatic invasive species, please report the observation to  iMapInvasives.org  .

Learn how to use iMapInvasives by booking a free virtual training with us! 

Know Your Invasives

Learn to recognize invasive species you may encounter on your waters.

Rusty Crayfish
An invasive crustacean that impacts aquatic food webs and native fish populations.
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Asian Clam
An invasive freshwater bivalve that clogs underwater pipes and infrastructures, and impacts aquatic food webs.
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Asian Carp
An invasive fish with multiple subspecies that impact the aquatic food-web, outcompete desirable game fish and can impede recreational fishing.
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Eurasian Watermilfoil
An invasive aquatic plant that clogs waterways and impacts native fish spawning.
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European Frogbit
An invasive floating plant that clogs waterways and reduces native biodiversity.
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Spiny Waterflea
An invasive crustaceous zooplankton that disrupts the aquatic food web directly impacting native fish.
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Hydrilla
An invasive submersed aquatic plant can alter the physical and chemical characteristics of lakes and deter recreational activities and reduce lakeshore property values
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Tench
An invasive fish that has the ability to diminish aquatic food-webs, increase water turbidity, and introduce non-native parasites into the Great Lakes.
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Learn of aquatic invasive animals and their known distribution in Northern New York. 

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Find public boat launches near you with watercraft inspection stewards and boat decontamination services in New York State. Stewards help raise awareness of invasive species and inspect boats for the presence of invasives to prevent their spread into new waterbodies. Boat decontamination stations are available at select locations to provide a free boat wash to kill and remove aquatic invasive species from the watercraft.