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PROTECT THE WATERS YOU LOVE

Clean. Drain. Dry.

Two boats on prairie lake with people in them fishing
 

Aquatic Nuisance Species

What are
Aquatic Nuisance Species?

  • Nonindigenous
  • aquatic plants or animals
  • that
  • cause harm to native and desirable species
  • or
  • have a negative effect on aquatic habitats, the environment, or the economy of the state.

ANS News

Dock and Lift Regulation Update:

Purpose

Boat docks and lifts are high risk structures for spreading ANS. They provide excellent habitat for zebra mussels and other ANS that can survive out of water for weeks. It can be difficult and sometimes impossible to find and remove every organism on a dock/lift. Therefore, a three week drying period is needed to prevent ANS introductions to new waterbodies.

Regulation - North Dakota Administrative Code 30-03-06-01.

Upon entering or leaving any water body or while in transit, all watercraft, watercraft motors, watercraft trailers, docks, boatlifts, and recreational and commercial equipment used in fishing, hunting, and watercrafting or construction equipment shall be free of prohibited or regulated aquatic nuisance species, as defined in the state’s aquatic nuisance species list. All equipment is subject to inspection by a North Dakota game and fish department employee. All docks, lifts and related equipment must be dried and left out of the water for at least 21 days before they may be placed in another water.


Protect North Dakota Waters from Aquatic Nuisance Species


Two kids holding up fish they caught while boating
Boater removing weeds from under boat on trailer

Clean.

Remove all plants, animals and mud from all equipment.

Drain.

Empty water from baitwells, bilges, motors and other equipment.

Water coming out of open boat plug
Hunter putting duck decoys into the water

Dry.

Dry equipment before using in a different water body.

Every Time.

Boat being drained on ramp above painted words Clean, Drain, Dry
Duck decoy in water with weeds around and hunter standing in the background

ANS Regulations and Reporting

Person removing vegetation from boat trailer

Learn North Dakota's ANS
rules and regulations.

Regulations

Silver carp jumping from water

Discover what species are classified
as ANS in North Dakota.

Species

Zebra mussel coating boat dock post

Report ANS
sightings.

Report


North Dakota High Risk Waters

The following aquatic nuisance species are known to be in at least one water body within North Dakota:

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