A comparison of boat cleaning systems: invasive species removal, boater outreach and engagement, and cost

Abstract

Bleitz M, Walters K, Latimore JA. 2024. A comparison of boat cleaning systems: invasive species removal, boater outreach and engagement, and cost. Lake Reserv Manage. 40:43–56. The movement of recreational boats is an overland transport pathway that places lakes at risk of invasion by aquatic invasive species. Lake organizations, governments, and conservation organizations may choose to install boat cleaning systems that use heated water, pressurized water, hand tools, vacuums, or a combination, to kill or remove attached organisms. Here we present a comparison of these various cleaning systems in terms of decontamination effectiveness, outreach effectiveness, and cost. We reviewed published literature and interviewed 12 invasive species experts representing 7 boat cleaning programs located in Michigan (each program owns 1 to 5 boat cleaning systems, for a total of 15). Our analysis indicates that there is no single best boat cleaning system. Selection of the most effective system for a particular situation should be guided by local invasion risk, management goals, and location and budget constraints of that situation.