Fox-Wolf Partners with WI DNR for Annual Drain Campaign: June 3-5, 2022

The Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance will again be teaming up with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) for Wisconsin’s annual Drain Campaign! This summer campaign will kick off June 3^rd-5^th, aligning with both the WDNR Free Fishing Weekend and Invasive Species Action Month. Anglers, a major action you can take is to remember to drain those livewells and fish buckets before leaving the launches this fishing season.

Draining all water helps prevent the spread of numerous invasive species that we can’t easily see. These include diseases, such as Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS), and microscopic larvae of zebra mussels. When it comes to moving your catch, ice will keep the fish fresher than water as you move them from the lake

to the plate, too. Draining and rinsing your engine, especially if you don’t use your boat frequently, reduces the chance of mussel’s larvae doing irritating things like plugging your engine intake.

Joining in the effort across the entire state, the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance’s Clean Boats Clean Waters (CBCW) boat inspectors will be at launches around the Winnebago System reminding anglers and all boaters about the water draining law in Wisconsin. Keep your eyes peeled because these boat inspectors will also have free towels on hand to give out! In our region, Fox Wolf’s CBCW boat inspectors will have over 300 towels to give away to you! Take the prevention steps listed below and you may just be rewarded!

No matter where you launch, always remember before you leave the launch to:

• Inspect boats, trailers and equipment for attached aquatic plants or animals.
• Remove all attached plants or animals
• Drain all water from boats, motors, livewells and other equipment
• Never move live fish away from a waterbody (out of water = dead)
• Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash
• Buy minnows from a Wisconsin bait dealer
• Only use leftover minnows when either 1) fishing with them on the same body of water or 2) on other waters if no lake/river water or other fish have been added to the container.

Following these steps also helps boaters comply with Wisconsin state law, which prohibits the transport of aquatic invasive species.

Many Wisconsin boaters and our regular visitors from other states have become pros when it comes to draining all water from their boats and gear before leaving one lake or river and heading to another. Thanks for showing others the routine when they see you at launches taking this step and removing any plant or tiny animal debris from your boat and trailer!!

To learn more about invasive species and their impacts to Wisconsin’s waters and economy, visit DNR.wi.gov and search “Invasive Species.”