08/22/2025
Sign Up: Training Opportunity for Volunteers at Boat Ramps to Prevent the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species
Training Date: Thursday August 28, 2025 at 6 pm at Greenville Public Library
Help Protect Rhode Island's Lakes and Ponds
DEM is hosting a training 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 Greenville Public Library on Thursday, August 28 at 6pm (see attached pdf flyer for more information; or share the .jpg on your social networks).
Interested? Register online [forms.office.com] to reserve a training spot, complete one of the four trainings, and provide a smartphone or tablet to collect data.
The training includes:
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 2 hours in September to help collect data throughout the boating season when plants hit peak growing conditions. Volunteers must provide their own smartphone or tablet to collect data, and should be at least 16 years old (will require guardian to sign waiver).
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.
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