The Iowa DNR wants to remind area residents who may be bringing in their boat, trailers, docks, and lifts for the winter, to check for aquatic invasive species before storing them.

Aquatic invasive species including zebra mussels, move from one waterbody to another by hitchhiking on boats, in bait buckets and on other equipment used in the water. Tips for avoiding transporting any invasive species include:

CLEAN any plants, animals, or mud from your boat and equipment before you leave a waterbody.
DRAIN water from all equipment (motor, live well, bilge, transom well, bait bucket) before you leave a waterbody.
DRY anything that comes into contact with water (boats, trailers, equipment, boots, clothing, dogs). Before you move to another waterbody either: Spray your boat and trailer with hot or high-pressure water; or Dry your boat and equipment for at least five days.

Never release plants, fish or animals into a water body unless they came out of that waterbody and always empty unwanted bait in the trash.

Iowa law also requires boaters to drain all water from boats and equipment before they leave a water access and to keep drain plugs removed or opened during transport.