Sign Up: Training Opportunity for Volunteers at Boat Ramps to Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

Help Protect Rhode Island's Lakes and Ponds

DEM is hosting four trainings to instruct volunteers on how to educate and encourage boaters at state boat ramps to clean off plant debris from their boat, trailer, and gear before and after launching their boat. Volunteers will also collect data on boat traffic, how often plants are found on boats, and the most common areas where weeds are recorded.  

Volunteer training is a free two-hour, in-person event that will be held at 4 locations on 4 separate dates from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm: May 21 in South Kingstown, May 29 in Charlestown, June 4 in Cranston, or June 10 in Burrillville. 

Interested? Register online to reserve a training spot, complete one of the four trainings, and provide their own smartphone or tablet to collect data. 

The training includes:

• An overview of invasive species in RI
• Instructions for engaging volunteers and demonstrating a boat check
• Explanation of how to properly log all volunteer hours
• Discussion of volunteer duties and expectations. 

More details will be emailed to those who have registered for training. After training, volunteers may participate at any RIDEM state boat launch, but should commit to working, at a minimum, at least two hours a month in June, July, and August to help collect data throughout the boating season when plants hit peak growing conditions. 

This program aims to increase boaters' compliance with state law that prevents the unintended spread of invasive plants. Volunteers who help support boaters to clean off their gear before launching a boat may intercept a hitchhiking invasive plant, like hydrilla, before it’s accidentally introduced into a new lake, thereby “saving” the lake from that invasive plant. Once in a lake, it is extremely costly to manage and control invasive plants, but preventing their introduction is the most efficient and effective way to protect our waters.