House Bill (HB) 1589 – the ‘Clean and Drain’ bill designed to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive plants and animals – was passed had been passed by the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Following additional advocacy work from NH LAKES the Senate subcommittee and then full Senate voted unanimously to pass the bill. It is now moving to the Governor to be signed into law and made effective January 1, 2017.

This new law will require all boaters to clean off all aquatic vegetation – native and invasive – from their boat and trailer, and to drain their boat, whenever they exit a waterbody. Cleaning and draining a boat will prevent most aquatic invasive plants and animals from hitchhiking from one waterbody to another. If boaters also take the time to dry their boats, trailers, and gear – ideally for a minimum of five days – the potential for the spread of aquatic invasive species will virtually be eliminated.

Specifically the law will:

1. Make it an infraction for the transport of any aquatic plant, not just certain plants from a list of exotic species. A boater shouldn’t be expected to determine the species of a certain plant hitchhiking on his/her boat—it’s easier for the boater just to clean off anything that’s attached to the outside of the boat.
2. Make the transportation of aquatic plants on the outside of boat a violation, irrespective of intent. The law currently says that this act has to be done ‘knowingly, recklessly, or purposely.’ Rather than having to prove that someone transported or introduced invasive plants intentionally, we simply want it to be illegal.