Love to boat or fish? You’ll want to make note of some recent changes in Michigan’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act geared toward preventing the spread of invasive species and supporting natural resources stewardship efforts for the future.

In addition to the existing law requiring all aquatic plants be removed from boats and trailers before launching, the changes require the following, prior to transporting any watercraft over land:

• Remove all drain plugs from bilges, ballast tanks and live wells.
• Drain all water from any live wells and bilges.
• Ensure the watercraft, trailer and any conveyance (vehicle) used to transport the watercraft or trailer are free of aquatic organisms, including plants.

This means after trailering boats and before getting on the road, boaters must pull plugs, drain water and remove plants and debris from all watercraft, trailers and other conveyances. View new rules.