05/06/2026
Last week, our team learned about decontamination from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Aquatic Nuisance Species Program to prevent the spread of aquatic invaders! We got to try out the decontamination station at CPW. We cleaned all of the waders and gear used during the River Corps training earlier this year by scrubbing debris from the gear and then leaving them submerged for 10 minutes in 140°F water.
As water monitors and stewards, it is our responsibility to make sure that we are practicing proper decontamination techniques anytime we sample. Here at the River Watch office, we use the CPW decontamination station, but at home, cleaning, draining, and drying before reentering a body of water can help prevent the spread of aquatic invaders and keep our waters healthy. Learn more about proper techniques (https://cpw.state.co.us/activities/clean-your-gear), and make sure to clean your gear after you’ve been in the water!
