Protect the Adirondacks has applauded
\nthe recent signing by Gov. Andrew Cuomo
\nof legislation to ban the transport of aquatic
\ninvasive species (AIS) at public, private and
\ncommercial boat launches around New York.<\/p>\n
The Department of Environmental Conservation
\npassed rules to ban launching of boats
\nwith AIS at over 200 public boat launches and
\nfishing access sites in New York. This legislation
\ncovers public, private and commercial
\nlaunches. It creates the state’s first comprehensive
\nintervention and prevention program.<\/p>\n
The legislation aims to prevent the spread
\nof AIS by requiring the removal of visible
\nvegetation and animals from boats and related
\ngear, as well as draining areas of the
\nwatercraft of all water, when entering and
\nleaving boat launch sites to various water
\nbodies across New York.
\nStates such as Minnesota, Vermont, New
\nHampshire, Washington, Idaho, Montana,
\nCalifornia, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona,
\nMassachusetts, and South Carolina, among
\nothers, have similar laws.<\/p>\n
According to DEC, aquatic invasive species
\nseriously threaten economically important industries,
\nsuch as tourism and fishing. Invasive
\nspecies cost the U.S. economy an estimated
\n$120 billion per year, and while the state has
\nimplemented various programs designed to
\ncontrol the spread of aquatic invasives, it
\nis far more cost-effective to prevent them
\naltogether.<\/p>\n
“This is important statewide legislation
\nthat marks a new focus on intervention and
\nprevention of aquatic invasive species. It’s
\nvery difficult to get rid of an invasive species
\nonce it’s established in a lake or pond. This
\nnew law, which will be followed by statewide
\nregulations, will shift the spotlight to prevention.
\nIn the Adirondack Park and across New
\nYork we still have many lakes that are not yet
\ninfested with invasive species. This law will
\nhelp to keep these lakes free and clean,” said
\nPeter Bauer, executive director of Protect the
\nAdirondacks.<\/p>\n
“The natural beauty that is found in every
\ncorner of New York is second to none, and it
\nis imperative that we do everything possible
\nto protect that from the dangers of invasive
\nspecies,” Cuomo said. “We all share a responsibility
\nto protect our natural environment, and this legislation helps ensure that all who
\nenjoy New York’s waters will also do their
\npart to limit the spread of different types of
\naquatic life that would otherwise harm the
\nlocal ecosystem.”<\/p>\n
The main vector for spreading AIS throughout
\nthe Adirondacks and New York is the
\ntransport of motorboats for public recreation.
\n460,000 motorboats were registered in New
\nYork in 2012. Tens of thousands of boats
\nare transported across New York for public
\nrecreation for use on many lakes, ponds, and
\nrivers, said Bauer.<\/p>\n
AIS attaches to the engines, hulls, and
\ntrailers, among other places, and are carried
\nfrom one lake to another. In juvenile stages,
\nmicroscopic AIS animals, such as Asian
\nclams (corbicula flumenia), quagga mussels
\n(dreissena bugensis) and spiny water flea
\n(bythotrephes longimanus), are transported
\nin standing ballast waters, engine water and
\nin live wells and bait buckets.<\/p>\n
“Upstate New York is an area rich in incredible
\nlakes, ponds and rivers,” Bauer said. “The
\nwater quality of Upstate New York is vital to
\nthe local economies and supports a number
\nof businesses, resorts, vacation homes, and
\nhigh property values. AIS can rapidly change
\nthe ecology of a lake, wetland, pond or river
\nas well as significantly impair and seriously
\ndiminish recreational enjoyment. A much
\ngreater investment is needed by New York
\nstate to prevent the spread of AIS in order to
\nprotect the Upstate economy, environment
\nand quality of life.”<\/p>\n
A broad coalition supported this legislation
\nincluding the region’s and state’s leading
\nenvironmental groups, Trout Unlimited, the
\nAdirondack Park Local Government Review
\nBoard, state Federation of Lake Associations,
\nand many individual lake associations in the
\nAdirondacks and across New York.<\/p>\n
The new legislation “creates a strong new
\nstate regulatory infrastructure. Once this
\nbill is signed into law, and after regulations
\nare finalized, New York will need to develop
\nhundreds of decontamination facilities and
\nmake sure that the major boat launches
\nacross the state have inspectors. It’s time to
\nmuster a greater sustained investment in the
\nprotection of water quality across Upstate
\nNew York,” said Bauer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Protect the Adirondacks has applauded the recent signing by Gov. Andrew Cuomo of legislation to ban the transport of aquatic invasive species (AIS) at public, private and commercial boat launches around New York. The Department of Environmental Conservation passed…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[66,103],"yoast_head":"\r\n