By Doug McDevitt

No, it’s not a B-grade horror movie with actors strutting in cheesy costumes, but if we’re not careful it could be a horror. As spring approaches and many of us look forward to taking up water sports again, not least for the social distancing and healthy outdoor exercise they provide, we need to be mindful—even on the water—of our responsibility to control invasive organisms.

Invasive aquatic species are a threat to our wetlands, streams and ponds, and one more very real worry. Some invasives are beautiful to behold, such as purple loosestrife, and some are really disgusting like rock snot, but all crowd out our indigenous species and can cause serious and negative consequences. A 2005 study estimated that nationally the economic impact of invasive species reached approximately 120 billion dollars per year with a direct impact on property values, agricultural productivity, public utilities, fisheries, recreation and tourism. These intruders are most often spread unknowingly by us as we enjoy our treasured waters, unaware of the potential harm we could be inflicting. 

Some of the species we see locally are Eurasian milfoil, an aquatic vegetation that spreads a canopy over the surface of lakes and ponds; hydrilla, another plant that can spread throughout our still waters; and curley leaf pondweed, which we commonly rinse off our paddle flukes as it tries to decorate the insides of our canoes or kayaks. All of these contribute to the depletion of oxygen levels, displace native species and block navigation channels and intake pipes. One species in particular, Didymosphenia geminata, aka didymo or rock snot, has been found on the West Branch of the Farmington River and is an alga that forms thick gelatinous mats on the bottom of the stream drowning out bottom-dwelling organisms and disrupting the food chain.

Not all of these invaders are plants. There are also a number of animals that can disrupt our natural environment. Zebra mussels, which have been found in the Housatonic River system in Salisbury, can attach themselves to submerged structures and spread like an underwater plague. New Zealand mud snails and the rusty crayfish are also a threat. Many of these animals were introduced either purposely or carelessly; regardless, they pose concerns for native species.

According to the Department Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), eradication of the intruders can be costly and generally ineffective. DEEP suggests the best approach is prevention using the process of Check, Clean and Dry. We can all do our part and enjoy our waters by responsibly following a few simple steps and avoid transporting unwanted hitchhikers. First, do a detailed check of your watercraft, equipment and clothing for any debris after exiting a body of water. Second, thoroughly clean and wash all inspected surfaces with hot water and a 2 percent bleach solution or a 5 percent dish detergent solution. Third, dry everything for at least 48 hours before entering a different body of water. These sticky critters cannot survive the drying process. Never release any plants or animals, such as bait or aquarium animals into any body of water, unless they came from there in the first place. 

We are learning through the current crisis the value of prevention and responsible behavior in containing the spread of unwanted organisms, and when this event passes we will all take a big sigh of relief and some of us will head out to our beautiful lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. DEEP asks you to contact them if you encounter any of these invading species at: DEEP Fisheries Division, 79 Elm Street, Hartford CT, 06106, or ct.gov/deep/fishing. For more information on invasive species go to protectyourwaters.net. It is up to us to use what we learn, continue our responsible actions and keep the quality of our waters high and our native species safe. We are the caretakers of our environment.