White Bear Lake, MN – Wildlife Forever, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and state agencies across the west have aligned efforts to educate boaters about aquatic invasive species (AIS). Through multimedia efforts, the “Clean Drain Dry: Protect the West” campaign has reached over 1.3 million people and counting.

The “Clean Drain Dry: Protect the West” campaign is a collaborative effort to stop the spread of AIS by educating boaters about watercraft transportation rules and regulations in western states. The campaign features a combination of strategic social media content with digital ads targeted at boaters and anglers. By promoting best management practices of Clean Drain Dry, the new materials support awareness of state laws regarding invasive species and directs users to specific regulations in each state.

“Western states offer some of the best boating and angling in the nation. By linking efforts with state and federal natural resource agencies we can facilitate consistent Clean Drain Dry messaging and save time and money. I’m proud of our partners for working across state lines and look forward to expanding the campaign,” said Dane Huinker, Conservation Program Manager for Wildlife Forever.

Watercraft transportation rules and regulations vary from state to state and staying informed is every boater’s responsibility. The “Clean Drain Dry: Protect the West” campaign features bold graphics and engaging messages that enable users to click on state specific content for rules and regulations. An interactive, easy-to-use map of locations provides information that directs uses to local decontamination and watercraft cleaning stations.

"Prevention is the strongest tool we have to stop the spread of AIS. When state and federal agencies band together to share the AIS prevention message, we reach a wider audience and empower awareness both locally and nationally," said Liz Lodman, Montana FWP Aquatic Invasive Species Information Officer.

Best management practices state that watercraft users follow Clean, Drain, Dry protocols after they enjoy a day on the water. Users should clean off all aquatic plants and debris from equipment before leaving the water access area, drain all water including the bilge, live well, and motor, and all other devices; and dry all watercraft and equipment after being out on the water. Anglers should always dispose of any unused bat after they’ve finished their fishing trip.

About the Clean Drain Dry Initiative: The Wildlife Forever Clean Drain Dry Initiative™ is the national campaign to educate outdoor recreational users on how to prevent the spread of invasive species. Strategic communications, marketing, outreach, and educational services provide access to consistent messaging and tailored AIS prevention planning. To learn more, visit www.CleanDrainDry.org

About Wildlife Forever: Our mission is to conserve America's wildlife heritage through conservation education, preservation of habitat and management of fish and wildlife. Wildlife Forever is a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to investing resources on the ground. Recent audits reveal that 96% of every dollar supports our award-winning conservation programs. Join Today and learn more about the Art of Conservation® programs, Clean Drain Dry Initiative™ and Prairie City USA® at www.WildlifeForever.org.

Contact: Amanda Preston, APreston@wildlifeforever.org