Get your boat cleaned! From MN to Quebec, boaters can have their watercraft inspected, cleaned, and learn what to do to help Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! Watercraft inspectors will help boaters clean-drain-dry their boats and properly dispose of unwanted bait.

Got questions about aquatic invasive species? Watercraft inspectors, conservation officers, and staff from county SWCD AIS programs will answer aquatic invasive species questions at public accesses, hand out information and highlight how individual actions make a difference in preventing the spread of AIS.

Great Lakes-wide effort. Boaters and other water recreation folks will learn about the risks of spreading aquatic invasive species at public water access sites across the Great Lakes region (https://www.glc.org/work/blitz). Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz events will take place over two-weeks from June 27 - July 10, 2020. Local partners are teaming up with state and provincial agencies to deliver consistent messaging about preventing the introduction and spread of AIS by the movement of watercraft and equipment between water bodies. To help get the word out, many partners will be posting on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and using YouTube videos. We invite you to do the same!

Minnesota Effort. Across MN, MN DNR Watercraft Inspectors and Enforcement along with local governmental unit watercraft inspectors will be at over 700 water accesses over the two-week period.

Northeast MN Region Effort. Led by MN Sea Grant, a coalition of organizations have teamed up to provide watercraft inspection, education and social media, including: MN DNR Watercraft Inspection and Enforcement Programs, Wildlife Forever, University of Minnesota AIS Detectors, 1854 Treaty Authority, Carlton, Cook, Lake, and North St. Louis County SWCDs.

Where? On June 27, NE region partners will be at 27 accesses:

• Chub Lake DNR Access: 10 am – 4 pm  Host: Carlton County SWCD
• Rices Point DNR Access: 9 am – 3 pm Host: 1854 Treaty Authority
• Pike Lake DNR Access: 8 am – 8 pm Host: Canosia Township Watercraft Inspection Program
• Agate Bay DNR Access: 10 am – 6 pm  Host: Lake County SWCD
• Caribou Lake DNR Access: Noon – 2 pm  Host: Cook County SWCD
• Devil Track DNR Access: 9 – 11 am, 2 – 4 pm  Host Cook County SWCD
• Grand Marais Recreational Park Access: 4 – 8 pm  Host: Cook County SWCD
• Gunflint Lake Forest Service Access: 8 am – 4 pm  Host: Cook County SWCD
• Hovland Horseshoe Bay Access: 10 am – Noon  Host: Cook County SWCD
• Birch Lake South Access: 8 am – 4 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Ely Lake Access: 8 am – 4 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Gilbert Pit-Ore Be Gone Access: 8 am – 5 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Lake Vermilion Black Duck Access: 8 am – 6 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Lake Vermilion Everett Point Access: 8 am – 6 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Lake Vermilion Frazier Bay Access: 8 am – 6 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Lake Vermilion Hoodoo Point North DNR Access: 6 am – 8 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Lake Vermilion Head of the Lakes Access: 8 am – 6 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Lake Vermilion Moccasin Point Access: 8 am – 6 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Lake Vermilion Peterson’s Landing Access: 9 am – 7 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Lake Vermilion Timbuktu Access: 8 am – 6 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Burntside Lake Van Vac Access: 7 am – 5 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Fall Lake Campground Access: 9 am – 5 pm Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Shagawa Lake Sandy Point Access: 7 am – 5 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Moose Lake Access: 8 am – 4 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Snowbank Lake Access: 8 am – 4 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Pelican Lake Sauders Bay Access: 8 am – 4 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD
• Pelican Lake Orr Bay Access: 7 am – 4 pm  Host: North St. Louis Co. SWCD

Enjoy your day on the water and help protect our waters too! Post your messages and pics to your social media using #GLAISBlitz, #stopaquatichitchhikers and #AIS and @djensenmnsg. 

To learn more. Here’s short list of harmful AIS: http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/ais/index. Tell us what invasive species you’ve encountered and which ones you are most concerned about.