We move between waters all season, and our gear comes along: hulls, paddles, PFDs, even the mud on our shoes. That is also how aquatic invasive species hitch a ride from one launch to the next. Clean, Drain, Dry is a quick habit that helps slow them down, and it mostly happens in the few minutes you are already loading up at the takeout.
Clean, Drain, Dry is the prevention practice promoted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). The short version works for any boat, whether you paddle a kayak, a canoe, or a paddleboard.
The simple version
Before you leave a launch, and again before you put in somewhere new:
- Clean off any visible plants, mud, and debris from your boat, paddle, and gear.
- Drain any water that collected on board: the cockpit, hatches, scupper holes, and anything else that holds water.
- Dry everything as thoroughly as you can before the next paddle. Drying time is what finishes the job on the organisms you cannot see.
What to check
It is easy to miss the spots where plants and water hide. Give these a quick look before you drive off:
- Hull and deck
- Cockpit and footwell
- Seat area and foot braces
- Scupper holes
- Rudder or skeg
- Paddle blades and shaft
- PFD straps and buckles
- Anchor or tow lines
- Fishing gear
- Cart or wheels
- Water shoes and bilge sponge
The rules worth knowing
This is good practice, and parts of it are also New York regulation. The notes below are a plain-language summary, not legal advice, so check the current details with NYSDEC.
- New York's statewide aquatic invasive species rule (6 NYCRR Part 576) requires boaters to take reasonable precautions such as cleaning, draining, and drying before launching into public waters. It applies at both public and private launches.
- At DEC boat launch and fishing access sites, you are required to drain your watercraft before launching or leaving.
- Greene County is in the Catskills, so the extra inspection and certification rules for motorized boats in the Adirondack Park do not apply here. They are worth knowing only if you trailer a boat north.
For the current, official wording, see NYSDEC's aquatic invasive species regulations.
Make it part of your routine
You do not need special equipment. A few habits cover most of it:
- Pull weeds off your boat and paddle before you load up.
- Tip the boat to empty any standing water before you leave.
- Wipe down muddy gear and let it dry between trips.
- Never move live bait, plants, or water from one waterbody to another.
- Paddling two spots in a day? Rinse and drain the boat in between.
A towel, a brush, and a few extra minutes at the takeout are usually all it takes. Packing for it ahead of time helps: our What to Bring checklist covers the basics, and Before You Paddle walks through the conditions to check before you go.
Help keep this current
Invasive species rules and launch facilities change. If you notice a boat-cleaning station, a new sign, or a rule change at a Greene County launch, send an update and we will fold it in. You can also see how we label and verify guides on our Field Review Status page.