Lake Whatcom Aquatic Invasive Species Program 2014 Annual Report. Lake Whatcom Management Program

Transcription

1 Lake Whatcom Aquatic Invasive Species Program 204 Annual Report Lake Whatcom Management Program December 204

2 Lake Whatcom Management Program Aquatic Invasive Species Program Contacts: Boat Inspection Hotline: (360) Teagan Ward, AIS Program Coordinator Lake Whatcom Management Program (360) , COVER: Inspectors check kayak for aquatic invasive species, 204 (T. Ward)

3 Table of Contents Introduction... 2 Program Objectives... 4 Program Development... 5 Watercraft Inspection Program... 6 Boater Survey Results... 7 Aquatic Invasive Species Check Stations... 0 Wire Seal Program On-Call Boat Inspections Watercraft Inspection Training Watercraft Inspection Results Watercraft Decontaminations Aquatic Invasive Species Permits... 3 Business and Event Agreements... 3 Education/Outreach Early Detection and Monitoring Regulations Education and Outreach Regional Collaboration, Partnerships and Information Sharing Program Development Appendix A - LWMP Watercraft Inspection Form... 4 Appendix B - Map of On-Call Inspections Appendix C - Map of Zip Codes Appendix D - Map of Last Waterbody Visited Appendix E - Map of Previous Waterbodies Visited Appendix F - Previous Waterbodies Visited (Figures 53-59) Appendix G - Program Expenditures & 205 Budget... 50

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5 Introduction To prevent the further spread of zebra/quagga mussels and other aquatic invasive species, many states and local jurisdictions in the western United States operate watercraft inspection programs to intercept watercraft that may be transporting aquatic invasive species. Despite these efforts, discoveries of zebra and quagga mussels continue to be made in waterbodies across North America each year (Figure ). The past year was no different with new infestations of zebra and quagga mussels confirmed in Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba and Lake Powell, Utah/Arizona, respectively. These two lakes are very large, freshwater bodies that are also incredibly popular recreation sites. Efforts are being made to manage these new infestations; however, the considerable size of these waterbodies combined with the high amount of boat traffic on these lakes makes it highly likely that invasive zebra/quagga mussels will be transported to additional waters unless a comprehensive, regional prevention strategy is realized. Figure : Distribution of zebra and quagga mussel sightings. Zebra mussel occurrences are highlighted in red and quagga mussel occurrences are highlighted in green (Source: USGS, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Maps at: Accessed on: /2/204). The Lake Whatcom Management Program began implementing its watercraft inspection program in 202 to prevent the introduction of zebra and quagga mussels, and other aquatic invasive species, to Whatcom County waters. To date, the program has conducted nearly 3,000 inspections and has intercepted one vessel transporting quagga mussels, 203 vessels transporting vegetation, and another 90 vessels with 2

6 standing water which is a primary pathway for the transport of mussel larvae and other aquatic invasive species. The program has not only helped to prevent the spread of additional aquatic invasive species to local waters, it has also helped to increase community awareness regarding the threats that aquatic invasive species pose to Washington waters and how to prevent their spread. The Lake Whatcom Management Program launched the first season of its watercraft inspection program on July 4, 202 at Bloedel Donovan. The main goals of the program in its first year included establishing usage patterns for the lake, conducting education and outreach with boaters and park users, and determining the feasibility of implementing a mandatory watercraft inspection program for Lake Whatcom in 203. As of September 30, 202, almost,800 boater surveys and visual boat inspections had been conducted at Bloedel Donovan. In 203, the Lake Whatcom Management Program completed the second season of its watercraft inspection program, which required all motorized and/or trailered watercraft to be inspected for aquatic invasive species and to display a valid aquatic invasive species permit sticker prior to launching or operating on Lake Whatcom or Lake Samish. An Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station was opened at Bloedel Donovan on April 27, 203 and was staffed between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m., 7 days a week. Aquatic invasive species inspectors were responsible for conducting education and outreach at the launch, conducting boater surveys, conducting visual and physical inspections of all watercraft, and selling aquatic invasive species permit stickers. As of October 30, 203, aquatic invasive species inspectors had conducted over 3,000 inspections at Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish and sold,923 Annual Permits and 3 Three- Day Passes. The Lake Whatcom Management Program completed the third season of its watercraft inspection program in 204, which required all watercraft to be inspected and permitted prior to launching or operating on Lake Whatcom or Lake Samish. Aquatic Invasive Species Check Stations were located at Bloedel Donovan, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Launch at South Bay, and the WDFW Launch at Lake Samish. Additional inspections were conducted at private residences as well as at the Sudden Valley Marina and AM/PM Beach. As of September 30, 204, aquatic invasive species inspectors conducted over 7,800 inspections at Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish and sold 2,327 Motorized Annual Permits, 2,438 Non-Motorized Annual Permits, and 44 Three-Day Passes. The annual total number of watercraft inspections conducted during the 202, 203, and 204 boating seasons is illustrated in Figure was the first season in which non-motorized watercraft, such as canoes and kayaks, were also required to be inspected and permitted prior to launching at Lake Whatcom or Lake Samish. The formation of partnerships between the Aquatic Invasive Species Program and local paddling and rowing clubs and organizations proved to be very valuable in fostering support for the program in 204. As of September 30, aquatic invasive species inspectors had conducted over 3,500 non-motorized inspections at Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish. Also in 204, the Lake Whatcom Management Program launched a new Whatcom Boat Inspections website and online Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Awareness Course. The website provides a central 3

7 Number of Watercraft Inspections location for program updates, fees, inspection locations, AIS prevention information, and a link to the new AIS Awareness Course. Successful completion of the online course in 204 entitled participants to a discount on each annual permit being purchased. The AIS Awareness Course was passed successfully by,367 individuals whose discount codes were applied to 2,575 permit sales. The online course and website provided staff with valuable tools for educating boaters and community members about the importance of stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species to Whatcom County waters. Since the initial discovery of Asian clams in Lake Whatcom in September of 20, Lake Whatcom Management Program staff have continued to survey Lake Whatcom and other Whatcom County waters for new infestations. To date, no new infestations have been found. Staff continue to track Asian clam response efforts taking place at Lake George, New York and Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada to determine response options for Lake Whatcom. This report highlights prevention program achievements for 204 and includes observations made as a result of our data analysis. Additional updates on early detection and monitoring, regulations, as well as education and outreach are also included. Annual Total Number of Watercraft Inspections Conducted by Aquatic Invasive Species Program ,000 Lake Whatcom Lake Samish 7,859 7,000,37 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 3, ,542 2,000,000,794 2, Figure 2: Annual total number of watercraft inspections conducted during the 202, 203, and 204 boating seasons. Blue columns represent inspections conducted at Lake Whatcom and green columns represent inspections conducted at Lake Samish. Total inspections: 2,845 Program Objectives The goal of the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program is to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species to and from Whatcom County waters. To achieve this goal, Lake Whatcom Management Program staff implemented a more comprehensive prevention strategy in 204 that included: the delivery of 4

8 aquatic invasive species education and outreach messages through the addition of a new online course and website; the inspection and decontamination of all watercraft, including non-motorized watercraft such as canoes and kayaks; and the adoption of more stringent regulations and enforcement. Program Development A timeline of Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program efforts for 204 is outlined in Figure 3. Figure 3: AIS Program Development Timeline from December, 203 through December, 204 5

9 Watercraft Inspection Program The Lake Whatcom Management Program officially began the third season of its watercraft inspection program on April 26, 204 with the opening of two Aquatic Invasive Species Check Stations at the Bloedel Donovan Park boat launch and the Lake Samish Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) boat launch. The main objectives included: Conducting education and outreach with boaters and park users, Conducting watercraft inspections and decontaminations, Collecting boater survey information, and Ensuring compliance with the new program requirements. To achieve these goals, fifteen seasonal aquatic invasive species inspectors were hired to educate boaters and park users about the program and the new requirements, conduct watercraft inspections and decontaminations, and sell aquatic invasive species permits. From April through September 30, 204, aquatic invasive species inspectors conducted over 7,800 watercraft inspections (Table ). While the majority of these inspections took place at the Bloedel Donovan Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station, inspections were also offered at additional locations in an effort to increase compliance with the new requirements. Seven inspections were conducted at the City of Bellingham's Natural Resources Office on Nevada Street for people wishing to get their watercraft inspected and permitted prior to the official launch of the program. An additional,579 inspections were conducted at private residences in the Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish watersheds for boats that could not be trailered to an inspection station or at residences with multiple watercraft. Additional inspections were also conducted at other boat launches including the Sudden Valley Marina, the South Bay Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) boat launch at Lake Whatcom, as well as at the Lutherwood and the WDFW boat launches at Lake Samish. Aquatic invasive species inspectors had an additional 6,3 interactions with boaters throughout the season as a result of the Wire Seal Program that provided staff with further opportunities to engage boaters in the program. Over,800 visitors also stopped by the aquatic invasive species check stations to ask questions about the program and to pick up outreach materials. Feedback from these interactions is being used to develop recommendations for improving the program in 205. Table : Number of inspections conducted at each location in 204 Inspection Location Lake Samish Lake Whatcom Total 2200 Nevada Street 6 7 Bloedel Donovan 68 4,990 5,058 Private Residence 434,45,579 Sudden Valley WDFW-Samish WDFW-Whatcom Total,37 6,542 7,859 6

10 Boater Survey Results Boater survey information was collected during the watercraft inspection to provide information on usage patterns, traffic flow, and to assess the level of risk an individual watercraft may have posed to the lake. Specifically, these surveys collected the following information from watercraft operators: Date and time of inspection Inspection Location Vessel Owner/Operator Name State Registration Number/Hull Identification Number Zip Code Vessel Type Vessel Length Vessel Color(s)/Description Last waterbody where launched and date Other waterbodies visited Next waterbody where launching (if known) Whether the vessel is Cleaned, Drained, and Dried (to their knowledge) This information was collected during watercraft inspections and entered on Lake Whatcom Management Program Watercraft Inspection Forms (Appendix A). These surveys improved our knowledge of the amount of boat traffic on Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish, and the hours when the highest traffic occurs, that may be used to adjust hours/days of operation and location of Aquatic Invasive Species Check Stations in 205. Additionally, these surveys have provided us with data on the length and type of watercraft using these waterbodies. This information may be used to review the fee structure in the future. Most importantly, these surveys have provided us with a list of previously visited waterbodies where boats had launched in the past that has been very valuable in determining the level of risk that boaters pose to our local water resources. A total of 7,859 boater surveys and watercraft inspections were conducted between April and September 30, 204. While the majority of boats surveyed had originated in Whatcom County, boats had visited 290 different waterbodies in 6 different states/provinces prior to launching in Lake Whatcom or Lake Samish. Survey results also indicated that Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish boaters had visited 457 different waterbodies in 28 different states/provinces at some point in the past, including thirteen musselinfested waterbodies. Maps depicting postal codes of all boats (including non-motorized), the last waterbody where launched, as well as any waterbodies visited in the past can be found in Appendices C - E. Of the registered boats surveyed, 86 percent were registered in Washington, 2 percent were registered in Canada, and the remaining 2 percent were registered elsewhere. These boats were registered in Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, and Utah. Of the boats that were registered in states other than Washington, the majority of boat operators reported that they live in Washington but had not changed their registration over yet. 7

11 2,585 unique registered boats stopped at the Aquatic Invasive Species Check Stations to be inspected and permitted. 295 boats were registered in British Columbia, 74 were registered in states/provinces other than Washington/British Columbia, and the remaining 2,26 were registered in Washington State. Twenty-eight watercraft operators reported having taken their watercraft to a waterbody infested with zebra or quagga mussels in the past. While the majority of these watercraft posed very minimal risk to Lake Whatcom or Lake Samish at the time they were intercepted at the Aquatic Invasive Species Check Stations, they demonstrate that there are Whatcom County boaters that have traveled to mussel infested waters in the past. The most frequent freshwater bodies visited by a motorized watercraft prior to launching at Lake Whatcom were Lake Samish, Lake Washington, Lake Chelan, Lake Terrell, Big Lake, Baker Lake, the Columbia River, Banks Lake, Lake Goodwin, and Pearrygin Lake. The most frequent out of state freshwater bodies visited by a motorized watercraft prior to launching in Lake Whatcom were all in British Columbia and included the Fraser River, Cultus Lake, Alouette Lake, Lake Osoyoos, Okanagan Lake, Pitt Lake, and Harrison Lake, to name a few. However, four boats were reported to have last been launched in lakes with established quagga mussel populations: Lake Havasu, Arizona/California and Lake Casitas, California (Appendix F). The most frequent freshwater bodies visited by a motorized watercraft prior to launching at Lake Samish were Lake Whatcom, Baker Lake, Big Lake, the Skagit River, Clear Lake, Lake Terrell, Lake Campbell, Lake Goodwin, Lake Stevens, Pearrygin Lake, Lake Chelan, and Lake Washington. The most frequent out of state freshwater bodies visited by a motorized watercraft prior to launching in Lake Samish were Priest Lake in Idaho, and Lake Osoyoos, Alouette Lake, Cultus Lake, and the Fraser River in British Columbia. Two boats were also reported to have last been launched in California lakes and one boat was reported to have last been launched in Lake Mohave, a quagga mussel infested waterbody on the border between Arizona and Nevada (Appendix F). The most frequent freshwater bodies visited by a non-motorized watercraft prior to launching at either Lake Whatcom or Lake Samish were Lake Padden, the Nooksack River, Baker Lake, Lake Terrell, Lake Washington, Silver Lake, the Skagit River, the Columbia River, Wiser Lake, Lake Chelan, and Lake Lawrence. The most frequent out of state freshwater bodies visited by a non-motorized watercraft prior to launching at Lake Whatcom or Lake Samish were Harrison Lake, Cultus Lake, and the Fraser River in British Columbia and the McKenzie River in Oregon. One non-motorized watercraft was reported to have last been launched in Lake Powell, a quagga mussel infested waterbody on the border between Arizona and Utah (Appendix F). The different types of motorized/registered watercraft that were recorded during the boater surveys are displayed in Figure 4. Approximately 30 percent of the motorized/registered watercraft that were inspected were Wakeboard/Ski boats and roughly 5 percent of these had internal ballast systems capable of transporting water contaminated with aquatic invasive species. 8

12 Number of boats by type Number of Motorized Watercraft Launching - By Type Pleasure Wakeboard / Ski Fishing PWC Sailboat Pontoon Vessel Type 3 Figure 4: Number of motorized watercraft launching by type. 2,892 vessels were characterized as motorized/registered and were divided into the categories above. An additional 2,297 vessels were characterized as non-motorized (canoes, kayaks). PWC refers to personal watercraft such as jet skis. Approximately 56 percent of all of the watercraft launching were characterized as motorized or registered with the other 44 percent being characterized as non-motorized. The majority of motorized/registered watercraft were wakeboard/ski boats or pleasure craft, followed by fishing vessels, personal watercraft (PWC), sailboats, and pontoon boats. Due to some differences in characterizing watercraft types in previous years, a standardized watercraft identification protocol was developed prior to the 204 season and was used by all watercraft inspectors for characterizing motorized/registered watercraft. Additional information regarding the types of non-motorized watercraft (E.g. canoe, kayak, rowboat, paddle boat, etc.) was recorded on the inspection forms in 204. In 204, there were several watercraft that were inspected that were not easily defined under the categories listed in Figure 4. These watercraft included a personal submarine (Figure 5), an aqua car, a gyroplane (Figure 6), and an industrial barge. In 205, additional fields may be added to the inspection forms and the online database to be able to more accurately capture the different types of watercraft launching at Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish. Figure 5: Personal submarine launching at Bloedel Donovan 9

13 Figure 6: Gyroplane launching at Lake Samish Aquatic Invasive Species Check Stations In 204, the Lake Whatcom Management Program operated three Aquatic Invasive Species Check Stations. Two of these stations were operated at Lake Whatcom and were located at Bloedel Donovan Park and at the South Bay Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Boat Launch. The third station was operated at the Lake Samish WDFW Boat Launch. The hours of operation at each check station varied depending on the level of boat traffic, the number of staff available, and other extenuating circumstances. Data collected during the 204 season will be used to set hours of operation in 205 that are more in line with the staffing needs at each location. Bloedel Donovan Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station The Bloedel Donovan Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station opened on April 26, 204 and operated from dawn to dusk, 7 days a week, through September 29. A total of 5,058 inspections were conducted at the Bloedel Donovan Check Station in 204. This number accounts for approximately 64 percent of all inspections conducted during the 204 season. At the Bloedel Donovan Check Station, signage and traffic cones defined two travel lanes: one for watercraft needing to be inspected and permitted, and one for watercraft with an intact watercraft inspection seal. This second lane for sealed boats acted as an expedited inspection lane and was very successful at minimizing any traffic delays that may have occurred on busy days. The day with the highest boat traffic at the Bloedel Donovan Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station was July 3 with 77 boats (including 97 inspections and 80 sealed boats being checked in). This day was also one of the hottest days at Bloedel Donovan with a maximum air temperature of 85 F. To determine the influence of temperature on the number of boats launching at Lake Whatcom during the season, the total 0

14 Number of Boats Launching at Bloedel (Sealed + Inspected) number of boats processed at the check station per day (including both boats that were being inspected as well as sealed boats entering to launch) was plotted with maximum daily temperature (Figure 7) Number of Boats Launching at Bloedel Donovan with Temperature Temperature (Fahrenheit) 0 20 Figure 7: Influence of Temperature on Boat Traffic at Bloedel Donovan. Date is on the horizontal axis and total number of boats entering the launch and temperature are on the vertical axes. The blue columns represent the total number of boats on each date and the red line plots the maximum air temperature recorded on each date. Similarly to previous years, the overall relationship displayed in Figure 7 indicates that high boat traffic days appear to be associated with high temperatures. 204 marked the seventh warmest summer on record and the warmest summer since 2004 for Washington. Bellingham temperature data indicates that 20 days during the 204 boating season had a maximum temperature of 80 degrees or more compared to only 9 days during the 203 season. This increase in the number of high temperature days may have resulted in higher boat traffic throughout the 204 season. 204 was the first year that non-motorized watercraft, such as canoes and kayaks, were required to be inspected and permitted prior to launching at Bloedel Donovan. 2,039 non-motorized inspections were conducted at the Bloedel Donovan Check Station in 204. This number accounts for approximately 40 percent of all inspections conducted at Bloedel Donovan during the 204 boating season. The highest number of non-motorized inspections occurred on April 26, opening day, with a total of 39 boats being inspected and permitted. Across the entire season, an average of 3 non-motorized watercraft were NOAA National Climatic Data Center, State of the Climate: National Overview for August 204, published online September 204, retrieved on November 4, 204 from

15 Number of Non-Motorized Launching at Bloedel inspected each day. When the non-motorized launch data at Bloedel Donovan is separated from the motorized/registered boat data (Figure 8), it appears that non-motorized boat traffic is more consistent throughout the season and is not as influenced by high temperature days. Number of Non-Motorized Boats Launching at Bloedel Donovan with Temperature Temperature (Fahrenheit) Figure 8: Influence of Temperature on Non-Motorized Traffic at Bloedel Donovan. Date is on the horizontal axis and temperature and number of non-motorized watercraft launching at Bloedel are on the vertical axes. The orange columns represent the total number of boats on each date and the red line plots the maximum air temperature recorded on each date. In 204, the Bloedel Donovan Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station was staffed from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. or dawn to dusk, generating additional information regarding the time of day with the highest amount of boat traffic. When total number of boats inspected at the Bloedel Donovan Check Station was plotted with time of day, it appears that the hours of highest use were during the middle of the day extending into the early evening, when many people had just finished their work day (Figure 9). While the motorized inspections appear to follow more of a bell-curve pattern with the majority of boats launching during the hottest part of the day (:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.), the non-motorized inspections appear to increase during the early evening hours when there is less motorized boat traffic at the launch. If we take into account the boats participating in the Wire Seal Program (both coming in to launch and getting re-sealed upon exit) we can see that the majority of boat traffic interactions occurred with boats participating in this program, particularly during the late afternoon/early evening hours (Figure 0). 2

16 Number of Interactions Number of Inspections Number of Inspections at Bloedel Donovan by Hour Motorized Inspections Non-motorized Inspections Time (hourly) Figure 9: Number of inspections at Bloedel Donovan by hour. This figure shows the total number of boats entering the Check Station at Bloedel Donovan during a given hour for the entire season (including motorized and non-motorized inspections). The blue portion of the columns represent the total number of motorized boats inspected and the orange portion of the columns represent the total number of non-motorized boats inspected for a given hour Number of Interactions with Boaters at Bloedel Donovan Motorized Inspections Sealed Boat Interactions Non-motorized Inspections Time (hourly) Figure 0: Number of interactions at Bloedel Donovan by hour. This figure shows the total number of boats entering the Check Station at Bloedel Donovan during a given hour for the entire season (including motorized and non-motorized inspections and sealed boat interactions). Blue columns represent the total number of motorized boats inspected, orange represents the total number of non-motorized boats inspected, and green represents the total number of sealed boat interactions for a given hour. 3

17 Number of Boats When the total number of sealed boat interactions at the launch (including sealed boats entering and boats getting re-sealed upon exit) is plotted with time of day (Figure ), there is a large peak at the end of the day when boats were exiting the launch for the day. This activity often required additional staff so that two people could be available to seal boats while one person remained at the Check Station Wire Seal Program Interactions at Lake Whatcom/Bloedel Donovan IN seals OUT seals Time (hourly) Figure : Sealed boat interactions by hour. This figure shows the total number of sealed boats entering the launch (light green) as well as the total number of boats being sealed upon exiting the launch (dark green) during a given hour for the entire season. When day of the week is also taken into account, the majority of boat traffic appears to have occurred during the middle of the day and into the early evening hours. The days with the highest amount of motorized boat traffic were Saturdays and Sundays, followed by Fridays and Mondays (Figure 2). Additional staff were scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and on public holidays during the 204 season; however, boat traffic prior to 5:00 p.m. did not appear to be any higher on Fridays compared to the other weekdays. This trend is also illustrated in Figure 3, where you can see the boat traffic by hour for each day of the week. Busy mornings occurred most often on Saturdays, Sundays, and Tuesdays. Busy evenings occurred most often on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and Fridays. The days with the highest amount of non-motorized boat traffic were Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays with the highest amount of traffic occurring on Mondays, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings (Figure 4). This trend is also illustrated in Figure 5, where you can see the nonmotorized boat traffic by hour for each day of the week. Additional staff were also scheduled on Wednesday evenings to help process non-motorized paddlers and rowers coming to Bloedel for the weekly Wednesday Night Races. Interactions as a result of these races are not included in the inspection data presented in Figures 4 and 5 which would result in a higher peak on Wednesday evenings. 4

18 Number of Inspections Number of Inspections Bloedel Donovan Motorized Boat Inspections by Day and Hour Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Time (Hourly) Figure 2: Hourly distribution by day of the week of total motorized boat inspections conducted at Bloedel Donovan. This figure shows the total number of motorized boats inspected at the Bloedel Check Station during a given hour for each day of the week over the entire season. Each day of the week is represented by a different color Bloedel Donovan Motorized Boat Inspections from 4am to 9pm Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Day of the week Figure 3: Hourly distribution by day of the week of total motorized boat inspections conducted at Bloedel Donovan. This figure shows the total number of motorized boats inspected at the Bloedel Donovan Check Station throughout the day for each day of the week over the entire season. In this figure, each hour of the day is represented by a different color. 5

19 Number of Inspections Number of Inspections Bloedel Donovan Non-Motorized Boat Inspections by Day and Hour Sundays Mondays Tuesdays Wednesdays Thursdays Fridays Saturdays Time (Hourly) Figure 4: Hourly distribution by day of the week of total non-motorized boat inspections conducted at Bloedel Donovan. This figure shows the total number of non-motorized boats inspected at the Bloedel Check Station during a given hour for each day of the week over the entire season. Each day of the week is represented by a different color Bloedel Donovan Non-Motorized Boat Inspections from 4am to 9pm Sundays Mondays Tuesdays Wednesdays Thursdays Fridays Saturdays Day of the week Figure 5: Hourly distribution by day of the week of total non-motorized boat inspections conducted at Bloedel Donovan. This figure shows the total number of non-motorized boats inspected at the Bloedel Donovan Check Station throughout the day for each day of the week over the entire season. In this figure, each hour of the day is represented by a different color. 6

20 Number of Boats Launching The trends exhibited in Figures 9 through 5 will be used to develop staff schedules in 205 that are better able to accommodate higher traffic days and times for both motorized and non-motorized users, while minimizing the costs associated with staffing the Aquatic Invasive Species Check Stations. Lake Samish Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station The Lake Samish Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station also opened on April 26, 204. This Check Station is located on East Lake Samish Drive at a boat launch owned and managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The Check Station was operated from dawn to dusk, primarily on weekends, through the end of June. The Station was closed for most of the month of July to gain WDFW's approval of the AIS program's use of the site. For the months of August and September, the Check Station operated from 0 a.m. to 5 p.m., primarily on weekends and Fridays. A total of 89 inspections were conducted at the Lake Samish Check Station in 204. This number accounts for approximately 62 percent of all inspections conducted at Lake Samish during the 204 season with the remaining 38 percent of inspections occurring either at private residences, the Bloedel Donovan boat launch, or at the Natural Resources Office located on Nevada Street. The day with the highest boat traffic at the Lake Samish Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station was August 3 with 56 boats (including 55 inspections and sealed boats being checked in). This day was also one of the hottest days at Lake Samish with a maximum air temperature of 82 F (Figure 6) Number of Boats Launching at Lake Samish - WDFW with Temperature Temperature (Fahrenheit) Figure 6: Influence of Temperature on Boat Traffic at Lake Samish. Dates when aquatic invasive species inspectors were present are on the horizontal axis and total number of boats entering the launch and temperature are on the vertical axes. The green columns represent the total number of boats on each date that the Check Station was open and the red line plots the maximum air temperature recorded on each date. 7

21 Number of inspections Figure 6 illustrates the relationship between temperature and boat traffic at the Lake Samish Check Station. Busiest days at the Lake Samish Check Station appear to have occurred on high temperature days; however, this Check Station had limited hours of operation which make it challenging to discern any trends regarding day of the week or time of day with the highest boat traffic (Figure 7) All Motorized Boat Inspections by Day Lake Samish Lake Whatcom Sundays Mondays Tuesdays Wednesdays Thursdays Fridays Saturdays Figure 7: Distribution by day of the week of all motorized boat inspections conducted at Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish. The green columns represent the total number of boats inspected at Lake Samish and the blue columns represent the total number of boats inspected at Lake Whatcom for each day of the week for the entire season. Staff were scheduled at the Lake Samish Check Station for five to six Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays throughout the 204 boating season. Whereas, staff were scheduled at the Bloedel Donovan Check Station for 22 to 23 Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays during the 204 boating season. Despite the differences in the overall number of days staff were scheduled at each site, Saturdays and Sundays appear to be the busiest days at both lakes as illustrated in Figure 7. The majority of boat traffic recorded at the Lake Samish Check Station occurred between 0:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.; however, there does appear to be some early morning traffic that was captured at the start of the season when some early morning shifts were scheduled (Figure 8). Increased hours of operation at the Lake Samish Check Station are needed to better assess the level of boat traffic at the site prior to 0:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m. When the number of motorized boat inspections at the Lake Samish Check Station are viewed by month, it is evident that the number of inspections were increasing throughout the months of April, May, and June as the boating season got underway (Figure 9). There were very few inspections conducted during the month of July due to an unforeseen restriction of operations at the Check Station. It is expected that the true number of boats launching during the month of July would have been similar if not higher than 8

22 Number of Inspections Number of Inspections the number of boats inspected for the months of June or August. In September, as anticipated, the numbers dropped down again as the peak boating season came to a close Motorized Boat Inspections at Lake Samish by Hour Time (hourly) Figure 8: Distribution by hour of motorized inspections at the Lake Samish Check Station. The green columns represent the total number of motorized boats inspected at the Check Station at Lake Samish during a given hour for the entire season. 250 Motorized Boat Inspections at Lake Samish by Month April May June July August September Figure 9: Distribution by month of motorized inspections at the Lake Samish Check Station. The green columns represent the total number of motorized boats inspected at the Check Station at Lake Samish during a given month for the entire season. 9

23 Operation of the Check Station at the Lake Samish location was restricted after AIS program staff received a notice from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) that an access permit is required for any use of WDFW property. Notice of the permit requirement was communicated to Lake Whatcom Management Program staff at the end of June. After being informed of the requirement, it was necessary that the Check Station be closed down pending submittal of an application, followed by review and processing by WDFW staff. The Lake Samish Check Station was closed for most of the month of July while the access permit was processed. Although the outcome of that process was a decision by WDFW to approve a permit for use of the site, the permit included stipulations that restricted the area that could be used for the Check Station and increased the number of staff required to be onsite at all times. Requiring the Check Station to be located near the entrance to the site created safety concerns on busy days for staff, boaters and area traffic. Due to budget limitations, the requirement that three staff be present whenever the station was open resulted in fewer shifts being scheduled per day and reduced hours of operation at this location. There was also a negative impact to the public's support of the program due to our limited presence at the site. Discussions with Whatcom County and WDFW staff to resolve these permit issues are pending. Figure 20: Aquatic invasive species inspectors check boat at Lake Samish Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station South Bay Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station Despite the closure of the Lake Samish Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station during the month of July, the availability of additional aquatic invasive species inspectors meant staff could more frequently be scheduled to operate the South Bay Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station. The South Bay Check Station is located at the southern end of Lake Whatcom off of South Bay Drive in Sedro-Woolley. While the launch is managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, it is located on Whatcom County property so no access permit is required. The South Bay Check Station opened on May 6, 204 and was operated primarily on weekends and holidays up until September 3, 204. While the Check Station was open for 20

24 Number of Boats Inspected at South Bay several early morning shifts at the start of the season, it was generally open only from 0:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This Check Station received the least amount of boat traffic compared to Bloedel Donovan or Lake Samish and so unless additional staff were available, priority was given to the other two Check Stations. It was anticipated that the South Bay launch would be a challenging location for inspections to take place due to the limited amount of space and parking available at the site. While there were several days when the launch was very crowded, the aquatic invasive species inspectors found the users at this launch to be generally very cooperative and supportive. The launch is used by boaters coming up from Skagit and Snohomish counties, and also by many residents along South Bay Drive who appreciated having inspection services available at their local launch. A total of 225 inspections were conducted at the South Bay Check Station during the 204 boating season. The day with the highest amount of boat traffic was July 3 with a total of 27 boats being inspected at the Check Station, including 24 motorized and 3 non-motorized watercraft. This day also had a maximum air temperature of 85 F, the warmest day during which the South Bay Check Station was open (Figure 2). As with the other Check Stations, the busiest days at the South Bay Check Station were on Saturdays and Sundays Number of Boats Inspected at Lake Whatcom - South Bay WDFW with Temperature Temperature (Fahrenheit) 0 0 Figure 2: Influence of Temperature on Boat Traffic at the Lake Whatcom- South Bay Check Station. Dates when aquatic invasive species inspectors were present are on the x-axis and total number of boats entering the launch and temperature are on the y-axes. The blue columns represent the total number of boats on each date that the Check Station was open and the red line plots the maximum air temperature recorded on each date. 2

25 Wire Seal Program The Wire Seal Program aims to limit the burden on frequent users of the lake who do not visit other waterbodies. Boaters that planned on returning to a location with an Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station on their next visit could participate in the Wire Seal Program and have their boats sealed to their trailers as they exited the launch (Figure 22). Wire was threaded through the eyebolt of the bow of the boat and the trailer and then threaded through a small, plastic, plunger seal. Once the plunger was pushed in, the wire had to be cut to be broken. An intact wire seal indicated that the boat had not been launched anywhere else and so boats with intact wire seals were able to go through an expedited process when returning to launch. Figure 22: Lake Whatcom Management Program (LWMP) plunger seal 204 was the second year that the Wire Seal Program was offered at the Bloedel Donovan Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station.,6 unique registered boats participated in the Wire Seal Program at Bloedel Donovan in 204 compared to 38 in 203, with eight boats getting sealed/unsealed more than 40 times throughout the season. The busiest day for the Wire Seal Program at Bloedel Donovan occurred on July 3 with 80 sealed boats being checked in at the launch (Figure 23). In 204, the Wire Seal Program expanded to the Lake Whatcom South Bay Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) launch and the Lake Samish WDFW launch. Different colored seals were used to distinguish between boats exiting from Lake Whatcom or Lake Samish to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species between these two lakes. Blue plunger seals were used for boats exiting from Lake Whatcom and yellow plunger seals were used for boats exiting from Lake Samish (Figure 24). If a boat with an intact blue seal were to launch at Lake Samish, the inspectors would still check the vessel for any signs of standing water in an effort to prevent the spread of Asian clams and invasive plants to Lake Samish which is home to only one aquatic invasive species to date, the Fragrant waterlily. Figure 24: Blue (Lake Whatcom) and yellow (Lake Samish) seals 22

26 Number of Sealed Boats (In) Total Sealed Boats (In) - Bloedel Donovan Figure 23: Total number of sealed boats entering the Bloedel Donovan Check Station by date. On 7/3/204, 80 boats entered the check station with an intact wire seal. In 204, 56 uniquely registered boats participated in the Wire Seal Program at Lake Samish with a total of 25 interactions occurring with boaters as a result of sealing/unsealing boats at this site (Figure 25). Given that this was the first year that this service was offered at this location, it was expected that it would take some time to build up participation in the Wire Seal Program. Unfortunately, our more limited presence at the Lake Samish Aquatic Invasive Species Check Station and our absence during the month of July made it very challenging for staff to encourage participation at this site. Having a greater presence at this location in 205 may result in higher participation in the Wire Seal Program and this could in turn lead to increased support for the Aquatic Invasive Species Program. As a result of the Wire Seal Program at both Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish, staff had an additional 6,3 interactions with boaters while sealing/unsealing boats that provided staff with the opportunity to further engage these boaters in the program (Figure 26). The Wire Seal Program provided staff with the opportunity to develop relationships with boaters that were regularly visiting the launch while helping to alleviate any potential traffic build-up, and frustration that could have resulted on the warmer, busier days. 23

27 Number of Interactions Wire Seal Program Interactions at the Lake Samish-WDFW Launch Figure 25: Interactions with boaters participating in the Wire Seal Program at Lake Samish (includes all boats entering and exiting the launch with seals) for days when inspectors were present. On 6/2/204, staff had 27 interactions as a result of sealing/unsealing boats. The number of boats participating in the Wire Seal Program appeared to be increasing throughout the month of June as the weather improved. Inspectors were only present at the site on two days during the month of July and then participation remained fairly low for the rest of the season despite an increased presence at the launch. 24

28 Number of Boats 250 Wire Seal Program Interactions at the Bloedel Donovan Launch Figure 26: Interactions with boaters participating in the Wire Seal Program at Bloedel Donovan (includes all boats entering and exiting the launch with seals). On 7/3/204, staff had 204 interactions as a result of sealing/unsealing boats. 25

29 Number of Inspections On-Call Boat Inspections In 204, inspections were also offered at private residences for watercraft that could not be trailered to an inspection station or for people who had multiple watercraft requiring inspection (Figure 27). A total of,579 boats were inspected at on-call appointments in 204 (approximately 20 percent of all inspections). These inspections were conducted at 339 locations including: private residences, camps, university facilities, and outdoor/sporting goods stores. In many instances, boat owners were able to coordinate with their neighbors to get all of Figure 27: On-call inspection at South Bay residence their watercraft inspected at a single appointment. These group inspections helped to incentivize many boat owners to comply with the new requirements who may not have complied otherwise. Additionally, aquatic invasive species inspectors were able to spend more time at the higher-risk public boat launches instead of doing individual on-call inspections as a result of this effort. In 204, aquatic invasive species inspectors continued to offer on-call inspections throughout the season (Figure 28). A map of all of the on-call inspection locations can be found in Appendix B. On-Call Boat Inspections Calmor Cove, Greene Point Rd Roy Rd, Camp 83 W Lake Samish Dr Firwood Lakewood, Whatcom Rowing Association, Yeager's, Lutherwood Figure 28: Number of on-call inspections conducted at private residences, camps, university facilities, and outdoor/sporting goods stores. 7 on-call inspections were conducted on 6/3/204 at four locations including: Western Washington University's Boating Facility at Lakewood, Yeager's Sporting Goods, the Lutherwood Camp and Retreat Center, and the Whatcom Rowing Association fleet at Bloedel Donovan. 26

30 Watercraft Inspection Training Prior to the launch of the program in 204, the Aquatic Invasive Species Program Coordinator and a lead aquatic invasive species inspector were sent to Lake Havasu, Arizona to complete the Level II Inspection and Decontamination Training certified by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, the Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species, and the 00 th Meridian Initiative, with their state and federal partners. Over the two-day period, trainees conducted field inspections of various types of watercraft, some of which were contaminated with quagga mussels, and had to demonstrate their practical knowledge of standard decontamination procedures according to the Uniform Minimum Protocols and Standards for Watercraft Interception Programs for Figure 29: Level II Training at Lake Havasu, Arizona Dreissenid Mussels in the Western United States (Figure 29). At the end of the two-day course, trainees had to pass a final written exam to receive a certificate of completion qualifying them as incident responders and Level I Trainers. This training not only provided hands-on inspection and decontamination experience for our staff, it also provided them with a rare opportunity to collaborate with representatives from other agencies, organizations, and businesses who are also implementing inspection and decontamination programs throughout North America (Figure 30). Figure 30: Level II Training at Lake Havasu, Arizona (E. Brown, 204) 27

31 Before the start of the inspection season, aquatic invasive species inspectors received inspection training based on the training received at Lake Havasu which included many hands-on exercises (Figures 3 & 32). Staff also received an inspection handbook adapted from the Official Colorado Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination (WID) Procedures developed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (204) and used in the Level Figure 3: Lead inspector training new inspectors II Training at Lake Havasu. This handbook outlines standard watercraft inspection and decontamination procedures to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species to and from Lake Whatcom and other Whatcom County waters. Figure 32: New inspectors search for stickers (mussels) on a watercraft Additional information on particular species of concern, such as zebra and quagga mussels, as well as frequently asked questions and other reference materials are also included in the handbook. Similar to airport security, inspectors were trained to quickly screen for potential risks while avoiding traffic buildup and boater frustration at the inspection site. By asking the boater where the watercraft was last used, how long ago that use occurred and what procedures were used to clean, drain, and dry it since its last use, inspectors were able to make an initial risk determination. Inspectors would also rely on evidence from physical watercraft inspections prior to clearing the watercraft for launch. 28

32 Figure 33: Clipboard with inspection form and inspection tools Inspectors were encouraged to use the inspections as an educational opportunity to show the watercraft operators how to inspect their own watercraft for invasive species. Inspections were always conducted using the same protocols and involved a visual and physical inspection of the outside of the boat, as well as any internal compartments and equipment on board. Inspectors looked and felt for any evidence of aquatic invasive species or standing water using flashlights, mirrors, and magnifying glasses (Figure 33). Once a boat passed the inspection, the inspector signed the inspection certificate and issued the watercraft operator a copy of their inspection form as proof of inspection (Appendix B). If the watercraft had not yet been permitted, the inspector could then issue them a permit and clear them for launch. Watercraft Inspection Results In 204, aquatic invasive species inspectors conducted a total of 7,859 watercraft inspections. The majority of boats that were stopped at the Aquatic Invasive Species Check Stations were clean; however, there were 20 cases where boats were found to be transporting vegetation that had to be removed prior to the boats being allowed to launch (Figure 34). While several of these boats were found to be transporting invasive aquatic plants, the majority of these boats had eelgrass on their trailers that had been transported from Bellingham Bay. While the eelgrass did not pose a threat to Lake Whatcom, these occurrences provided staff with a good opportunity to educate boaters on the importance of cleaning, draining, and drying their boats between launches. Figure 34: Plant material found on propeller of watercraft launching at Bloedel Donovan Additionally, there were 45 cases where boats were found to be carrying standing water on board. In the majority of these cases the watercraft had come from Bellingham Bay or other local waters. As part of our inspection protocols, inspectors required the bilges/engine compartments to be drained or towel dried prior to allowing the watercraft to launch. However, if these watercraft arrived from out-of-state or had been moored in a waterbody infested with zebra or quagga mussels (or Asian clams in the case of boats launching at Lake Samish), decontamination was the recommended course of action. Two additional watercraft were found to be transporting other organisms including saltwater mussels and a terrestrial snail. While none of these organisms appeared to pose an aquatic invasive species risk to Lake Whatcom or Lake Samish, they do clearly illustrate the importance of cleaning, draining, and drying watercraft between every use to avoid unintentionally transporting aquatic species from one location to another. 29

33 Watercraft Decontaminations Figure 35: Mobile decontamination unit In 203, a grant from the Puget Sound Partnership was used to purchase a mobile, hot-water, highpressure decontamination unit to be used to kill and remove any evidence of zebra/quagga mussels or other aquatic invasive species from an infested watercraft (Figure 35). The unit can hold up to 400 gallons of water in two inner and two outer tanks and has a containment pad and vacuum/reclaim system so that infested water can be collected and disposed of in such a way as to minimize the likelihood of contaminating other freshwater bodies. In 204, aquatic invasive species inspectors conducted one watercraft decontamination using the portable decontamination unit (Figure 36). The watercraft in question was intercepted at the Bloedel Donovan Check Station on June 4, prior to launching at Lake Whatcom. The watercraft had last been used by a previous owner at Lake Havasu, Arizona over a year ago and had been in dry storage in Olympia, Washington for the past year before being purchased by the current owner. The boat had several dead, juvenile life-stage quagga mussels on the outdrive gimbal area. These mussels were physically removed and the boat was decontaminated using 40 degree, high-pressure water (Figures 37, 38 & 39). This was the first boat found to be transporting invasive mussels since mandatory watercraft inspections began at Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish in April, 203. Figure 36: Aquatic invasive species inspector decontaminates watercraft at Bloedel Donovan Figures 37, 38 & 39: Aquatic invasive species inspectors prepare to decontaminate watercraft at Bloedel Donovan (Above). Quagga mussel shell set next to a dime to show scale (Upper Right). Quagga mussel attached to gimbal area on watercraft prior to removal (Lower Right). 30

34 Aquatic Invasive Species Permits Figure 40: Motorized Annual Aquatic Invasive Species Permit sticker affixed to bow of boat In 204, both motorized and non-motorized watercraft were required to have a valid Aquatic Invasive Species permit prior to being launched or moored on Lake Whatcom or Lake Samish. Motorized/registered watercraft owners could purchase either an Annual Permit (valid through December 3, 204) for $50 or a Three-Day Pass (valid for three consecutive days) for $20. Non-motorized watercraft owners could purchase an Annual Permit (valid through December 3, 204) for $0. Watercraft owners purchasing motorized Annual Permits received a set of uniquely numbered, red permit stickers to be affixed to the watercraft (Figure 40). Nonmotorized users received one uniquely numbered permit sticker which also had to be affixed to the watercraft. The non-motorized Annual Permit stickers included a logo designed by a member of the paddling community to make the stickers more visually appealing and to help encourage support for the program (Figure 4). These permits allowed the inspectors to more easily track each vessel as it came through the Check Station and resulted in a more expedited re-inspection process. Additionally, watercraft owners successfully passing the online AIS Awareness Course were eligible to receive a $0 discount for each annual permit being purchased. Discounts were applied to a total of 2,575 permit purchases in Figure 4: Non-Motorized Permit Example In 204, aquatic invasive species inspectors sold a total of 2,327 Motorized Annual Permits, 2,438 Non- Motorized Annual Permits, and 44 Three-Day Passes. Permit numbers were included on the inspection forms to help track the vessel throughout the season. After every permit sale or re-inspection, the boater survey information and inspection results were entered into an online database. This database could then be queried using the permit number, registration/hull identification number, or watercraft owner/operator name to view all of the inspection results associated with an individual watercraft in real time. Business and Event Agreements In response to comments received during meetings with user groups held prior to the boating season, staff created additional permit arrangements with boat business operators and boating event organizers. Boat businesses utilize the Bloedel Donovan launch on a regular basis for testing of new boats and serviced boats, as well as for the removal of boats for dry storage in the winter. To accommodate these businesses, the Lake Whatcom Management Program entered into agreements with five boat businesses who paid a one-time fee of $50 and received expedited inspection privileges. During the agreement process the owners and staff of these businesses were educated about the purpose and function of the AIS Inspection Program. The agreements stipulate that boat business representatives show their AIS business permit and 3

35 sign an affidavit for each vessel they are launching. A total of 76 boats were launched by these businesses during the 204 season. While the majority of these boats were new or had just been used locally, one boat had a California registration. While it is estimated that this boat had not been in the water for at least six months prior to launching in the lake, our interactions with these businesses suggest that they do not always receive detailed records of the usage history of the boats they are purchasing/servicing. Each year several bass tournaments are held at Lake Whatcom during the fishing season. These tournaments bring in anglers from the local area as well as from other counties across the state. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife requires all tournaments to be registered and tournament directors must submit paperwork demonstrating that all participating watercraft have either been decontaminated or have not been in contact with waters outside of Washington State in the last 30 days. Between April 26 and September 30, two bass tournaments were held at Lake Whatcom and two were held at Lake Samish. To accommodate these tournaments, an event fee of $5 is charged to each participant without a valid AIS permit. In 204, efforts were also made to accommodate groups organizing non-motorized events at Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish. Staff met with representatives from rowing and paddling clubs in the community prior to the launch of the program to discuss the new inspection and permitting requirements and ways to more efficiently process large groups of non-motorized watercraft. Prior to the events, the organizers of these events posted information about the new requirements as well as a link to the online Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Awareness Course. Figure 42: Lake Whatcom Classic To accommodate these groups, additional aquatic invasive species inspectors were scheduled to work at these events so that multiple watercraft could be checked in at one time. Inspectors conducted expedited inspections of the watercraft and filled out a special event check-in form with the watercraft operator's 32

36 name, postal code, permit number (if they had one), and the last waterbody where the watercraft was launched and when. This information was used to quickly assess the risk that the watercraft posed to Whatcom County waters prior to the start of the event. The majority of event participants had taken the online AIS Awareness Course and so were aware of the goal of the program and had taken steps to make sure their watercraft were cleaned, drained, and dried prior to arriving at the event location. This proactive education played an important role in ensuring that these events ran as efficiently as possible. This expedited inspection process was used both at the Lake Whatcom Classic and WAKE Demo Day on May 3 (Figure 42) as well as at the Lake Samish Salmon Row and Paddle Event on September 3. Additional efforts were also made to expedite the inspection and check in process for non-motorized watercraft participating in the Wednesday Night Races at Bloedel Donovan. Up to 40 boats participated in a total of 22 races during the 204 inspection season. These races provided aquatic invasive species inspectors with the opportunity to learn more about different types of non-motorized watercraft while building relationships with many of the regular non-motorized users launching at Bloedel Donovan Park. Also in 204, staff met with representatives from the Washington Seaplane Pilots Association as well as local members of the seaplane pilot community to develop a cooperative agreement that allows pilots to land on Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish while still being in compliance with the City and County's aquatic invasive species regulations (Figure 43). Under the proposed agreement, all Figure 43: Sudden Valley Fly-In Event held in June, 204 pilots would be required to watch an invasive species prevention training video and periodically submit information regarding their flight history prior to landing at Lake Whatcom or Lake Samish. Education/Outreach Aquatic invasive species inspectors were also responsible for providing education to watercraft operators coming through the Aquatic Invasive Species Check Stations as well as during onsite inspections. Staff disseminated Whatcom Boat Inspections brochures, invasive species watch cards, and other invasive species educational materials. Over,800 visitors also stopped by the Aquatic Invasive Species Check Stations to read the invasive species display, talk to aquatic invasive species staff, and to pick up outreach materials. 33

37 Early Detection and Monitoring In 205, the Aquatic Invasive Species Program will develop its capability to conduct frequent lake monitoring events for zebra/quagga mussels and other aquatic invasive species in Lake Whatcom and surrounding Whatcom County lakes. Monitoring will include the collection of vertical and horizontal plankton tows to monitor for zebra/quagga mussel veligers (Figure 44) and checking artificial substrates for the settlement of zebra/quagga mussels in their juvenile and adult life stages. Additional monitoring efforts will include the collection of water quality and boat traffic data for other Whatcom County lakes to be incorporated into a risk assessment report. Figure 44: Plankton tow monitoring, Lake Whatcom (L. Baldwin, 202) Figure 45: Eurasian watermilfoil infestation at Lake Terrell In 203, the Whatcom County Noxious Weed Board completed aquatic invasive species surveys of several Whatcom County lakes, including Lake Samish and Lake Terrell. A significant infestation of Eurasian watermilfoil was discovered in Lake Terrell covering an area of approximately 00 acres with a thick canopy (Figure 45). Unlike the scattered and mostly submersed Eurasian watermilfoil sites in Lake Whatcom, the dense surface canopy in Lake Terrell make this plant much more likely to be transported by boats and trailers to other area lakes. Lake Whatcom and Lake Terrell are the only lakes in Whatcom County to have known Eurasian watermilfoil infestations. Since this finding last year, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is working to secure funding to manage the infestation. In 204, several boats transporting Eurasian watermilfoil from Lake Terrell were intercepted at the Aquatic Invasive Species Check Stations at Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish. The plant fragments were removed from the watercraft and the watercraft owners/operators were educated regarding the importance of cleaning, draining, and drying their boats between uses to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species both to and from Whatcom County lakes. Additionally, aquatic invasive species staff continue to conduct shoreline surveys for Asian clams and to monitor existing infestations. No new Asian clam infestations were found in 204; however, a more comprehensive shoreline monitoring program is recommended for 205. Staff continue to study Asian clam management efforts being undertaken at Lake George, New York and at Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada to determine the cost effectiveness of implementing a similar response strategy at Lake Whatcom. 34

38 In 205, staff will begin conducting calcium testing at sites where Asian clams are established, as well as at control sites, to see if clam beds are bio-concentrating calcium making these sites more favorable for zebra/quagga mussel survival and reproduction. This data may then be used to develop a calcium concentration map of the lake to highlight areas with higher calcium concentrations that may require additional monitoring for zebra/quagga mussels. Regulations In 204, the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County both amended their Aquatic Invasive Species ordinances to require non-motorized watercraft to be inspected for aquatic invasive species and to display a valid aquatic invasive species permit sticker prior to launching or operating on Lake Whatcom or Lake Samish. Further amendments included the addition of Special Event Passes for fishing tournaments and non-motorized events, and Annual Watercraft Business Permits to accommodate businesses providing watercraft services (including transport, maintenance, repair, and storage). Education and Outreach In 204, aquatic invasive species staff also launched a comprehensive aquatic invasive species education and outreach campaign to increase awareness about aquatic invasive species and the new program requirements. Specific education and outreach efforts included the development of a new online Aquatic Invasive Species Awareness Course and program website, the installation of informational signage at boat launches, creating and disseminating postcards and brochures, conducting information sessions and giving presentations to community groups, and talking with boaters and park users at the Aquatic Invasive Species Check Stations. All of these efforts helped to increase the level of awareness in our community regarding aquatic invasive species issues while also fostering much needed local support for the program. Prior to the start of the boating season, staff scheduled an information session and developed outreach materials to inform Whatcom County boaters of the new regulations and boat inspection requirements. An informational postcard was designed and sent to residences in the Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish watersheds to inform boaters of the new requirements and to invite them to attend the information session held at the Bloedel Donovan Gymnasium on March 27 (Figure 46). The postcard also invited people to get their watercraft inspected early, starting on April, by scheduling an appointment. Figure 46: Attention Boaters Postcard 35

39 As a result of this effort, 85 watercraft had already been inspected prior to the official launch of the program on April 26, 204. Figure 47: Cascadia Weekly Ad, 204 Additional program outreach was conducted by placing advertisements in local newspapers to inform the community of the new program requirements. Advertisements were placed in the summer, 204 Leisure Guide, as well as in the Bellingham Herald and the Cascadia Weekly (Figure 47). An updated brochure was also printed to highlight information about the new program requirements at both Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish, payment options, and inspection locations (Figure 48). These brochures were made available at boat launches, boating supply stores, as well as at City Hall, the Whatcom County Courthouse, and other community events. As part of a new effort in 204, staff also collaborated with the Whatcom County Auditor's Office to distribute brochures to the Department of Licensing offices in Bellingham to educate boaters about the new requirements at Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish. These brochures were also made available as an outreach example for other program representatives participating in Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Trainings offered at Lake Mead, Lake Havasu, and Lake Pleasant by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. In early April, the Lake Whatcom Management Program launched the new Whatcom Boat Inspections website: This website acts as a central location for information regarding the Boat Inspection Program, including program updates, fees, inspection locations, AIS prevention information, as well as a link to the new AIS Awareness Course Figure 48: Whatcom Boat Inspections Brochure 36

40 (Figure 49). The website has been visited by 3,4 unique users as of November 5, 204 with several visitors returning to the site on more than one occasion. Figure 49: Whatcom Boat Inspections website homepage Also in 204, the Lake Whatcom Management Program launched the online Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Awareness Course that can be found on the new Whatcom Boat Inspections website (Figure 50). The course takes around 30 minutes to complete and aims to educate the community about AIS prevention and boat inspection practices to help stop the spread of AIS to Whatcom County waters. Successful completion of the online course also entitled participants to a $0 discount on each annual boat permit being purchased. The AIS Awareness Course was passed successfully by,367 individuals who all received a certificate of completion with a unique discount code. A single discount code could be used multiple times for individuals purchasing annual permits for more than one watercraft. To receive the discount, participants had to bring a copy of their certificate to their inspection to have the discount code verified by an authorized inspector. A total of 2,575 discounted permits were issued in 204, 68 of which were issued for motorized watercraft for a fee of $40 each, and,894 of which were issued for non-motorized 37

41 watercraft for no fee. Discounts were applied to approximately 30 percent of all annual motorized permits sold and 77 percent of all annual non-motorized permits sold. Figure 50: Opening slide of the AIS Awareness Course Course feedback was very positive overall with many participants commenting on how the course had significantly increased their awareness of aquatic invasive species issues and how to prevent their spread. When engaging with people who had already passed the online course, aquatic invasive species inspectors were able to focus more of their time and energy on conducting boat inspections and answering questions, rather than providing basic aquatic invasive species education. This led to inspections being conducted much more efficiently and reduced overall wait times at the Aquatic Invasive Species Check Stations. Additional education efforts included presentations for community groups and organizations, such as the Lake Samish Association, the Navy League of the United States Bellingham Council, and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla. Aquatic invasive species inspectors also worked with the Sudden Valley Community Association to schedule two boat inspection days at the Sudden Valley Marina and at AM/PM Beach. The Aquatic Invasive Species Program was also represented at the Sudden Valley Community Spirit Day (Figure 5). These presentations Figure 5: Aquatic invasive species inspectors at Sudden Valley Community Spirit Day 38

42 and events gave staff the opportunity to engage additional members of the community in local aquatic invasive species prevention efforts. Also in 204, staff developed new informational signs with the clean, drain, dry message to be installed at non-motorized launches at Lake Whatcom, Lake Samish, and Lake Padden (Figure 52). These signs aim to encourage non-motorized users to clean, drain, and dry their boats and gear completely between outings to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Additional regulatory signs will also be installed at locations at Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish to emphasize the new permit requirement for non-motorized watercraft being launched at these two lakes. Figure 52: Clean, Drain, Dry Sign to be installed at non-motorized launches in

43 Regional Collaboration, Partnerships and Information Sharing The initial success of this program could not have been possible without the support of our partners at the local, state, and regional levels. These partnerships have fostered the sharing of news, information, training and resources that have been essential to the development of this program. Additionally, these partnerships have provided local staff with the opportunity to participate in regional collaborative efforts to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species to the Pacific Northwest. While attending regional invasive species meetings, staff from the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County have had the opportunity to learn from aquatic invasive species prevention and management efforts occurring at the state and regional scale while also being able to offer some perspective to our regional partners on aquatic invasive species efforts and challenges occurring locally. Specifically, staff would like to recognize the Puget Sound Partnership, the Washington Invasive Species Council, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon State Marine Board, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the 00 th Meridian Initiative Columbia River Basin Team, and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission for their continued support and guidance for the implementation of this program. 205 Program Development In 204, the Lake Whatcom Management Program successfully completed the third season of its watercraft inspection program to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species both to and from Whatcom County lakes. As a result of this program, aquatic invasive species inspectors were able to educate over 5,000 boaters and over,800 members of the public about aquatic invasive species impacts and ways to prevent their spread. These interactions also provided aquatic invasive species inspectors and staff with many opportunities to collect feedback on the 204 program that will be used to inform the development of the program for 205. Administrative changes made to the program for 205 will reflect needs identified by staff during the 204 season. 40

44 Appendix A - LWMP Watercraft Inspection Form 4

45 Appendix B - Map of On-Call Inspections Distribution of on-call inspections conducted in Whatcom County in 204 (F. WANG). The largest circles represent between boats being inspected at that location and include inspections conducted at Lutherwood Camp and Retreat Center, Calmor Cove, Wildwood Resort, Lakewood, Camp Firwood, Yeager's Sporting Goods, and Lake Padden. 6 additional on-call inspections were conducted in Bow, Burlington, and Lynden but were not included in the above map. 42

46 Appendix C - Map of Zip Codes Map of Zip Codes provided by all watercraft owners/operators at Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish in 204 survey data (C. BEHEE). 43

47 Appendix D - Map of Last Waterbody Visited Map of coordinates of last waterbody visited by all watercraft prior to launching at Lake Whatcom or Lake Samish based on 204 survey data (C. BEHEE). 44

48 Appendix E - Map of Previous Waterbodies Visited Map of coordinates of all previous waterbodies visited by all watercraft in the past based on 204 survey data (C. BEHEE). 45