Unveiling of the CD3 watercraft cleaning station
Please join
Hennepin County, Wildlife Forever and CD3 to celebrate the unveiling of a solar-powered,
user-operated watercraft cleaning station that gives boaters the tools needed
to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Although boaters are aware of the problem of aquatic invasive species, they often lack the knowledge of what prevention steps to take specifically for their type of watercraft and don’t have adequate tools to effectively complete the prevention steps.
The CD3 cleaning station informs boaters of the best management practices of cleaning, draining, drying and disposing of bait (CD3). The stations are waterless and include compressed air, a wet/dry vacuum, marine lights, and a series of low-tech, cable-tethered tools.
This pilot project aims to provide the tools needed by boaters 24/7 at a cost that’s similar to staffing an access with an inspector with limited hours. Because it’s waterless and solar-powered, this cleaning station could be used more widely by local governments that maintain public accesses that have found installing and maintaining decontamination stations to be cost prohibitive.
 When
Monday, August 21
-
9
to 10 a.m. - Informal
gathering of partners and individuals with an interest in preventing the spread
of aquatic invasive species.
-
10
to 10:30 a.m. - Formal
program that includes brief remarks by Jan Callison, Hennepin County
commissioner, and Pat Conzemius, Conservation director of Wildlife Forever,
followed by a demonstration of benefits and features of the CD3 watercraft
cleaning station by CD3 staff.
Spring Park public boat access
4110 Spring Street,
Spring Park, Minnesota 55384
RSVP
This pilot
project includes five user-operated watercraft cleaning stations located at
North Arm and Spring Park on Lake Minnetonka, Bryant Lake in Eden Prairie and Pike
Lake in Saint Louis County. Learn more about how the station work by watching
this demonstration video.
Hennepin
County takes
a multifaceted approach to preventing aquatic invasive species by encouraging early detection
efforts through volunteer training, analyzing other pathways of spread for
aquatic invasive species through pet stores, garden centers and private
accesses, building awareness and providing hands-on education opportunities, enhancing
existing inspections and decontamination efforts, and funding research and
management of aquatic invasive species. The county receives about $300,000 a
year appropriated from the Minnesota Legislature to fund these efforts.
Wildlife
Forever’s Clean
Drain Dry Initiative
is a leading invasive species prevention partnership. Using consistent best
management practices to guide marketing and outreach services, the Clean Drain
Dry Initiative leverages many unique tools for on-the-ground outreach and
education.
CD3,
a Minnesota-based
company, developed the watercraft
cleaning station. They
strive to develop innovative technologies that empower people to reduce the
spread of aquatic invasive species and safeguard local economies and the
natural environment.
Additional
project partners include Initiative Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation and Three Rivers Park District.
|
