Do you know your hornwort from your lagarosiphon?

As well as managing pest plants and animals across the region, ORC’s Biosecurity team work hard to prevent freshwater aquatic pests from entering and spreading throughout Otago's waterways.  

One of the ways the team do this is through an educational programme called Check, Clean, Dry.  

Every Summer ORC staff will frequent rivers, lakes, swimming holes, and fishing spots throughout Central Otago, sharing with the public a simple 3-step solution to help prevent the spread of aquatic pests. 

This summer, if you’re out on the water, on the boat, the kayak, swimming, fishing or jet skiing, take a moment to: 

your gear for stowaway pests and remove these either or by putting them in the rubbish bin, 

your gear thoroughly, and  

it for 48 hours before relocating to another waterway!

Check, Clean, Dry, vastly reduces the risk of aquatic pests hitchhiking from one waterway to another aboard our vessels and gear.

Before you leave any river or lake:

Remove any plant matter from your gear and clothing and leave it at the site. Don’t wash plant material down the drain.

Use 10% dishwashing detergent mixed with water and leave the item wet for 10 minutes.

The rule of thumb for 10% detergent mix is:

• for a 250ml (small) spray bottle, put in 1 and half tablespoons
• for a 500ml (large) spray bottle, put in 3 tablespoons
• for a 10-litre bucket, put in 1 litre of detergent.

Soak or scrub all items using one of the below treatments:

Note: 60°C is hotter than most tap water; 45°C is uncomfortable to touch. Allow longer times for absorbent items.

Ensure your gear is completely dry to touch, inside and out, then leave dry for at least another 48 hours before you use it (didymo can survive for months on moist gear).

Watch the video below to learn how to Check, Clean, Dry a boat as an example of the method.