Green BOATING GUIDE for EVERYONE WHO LOVES the WATER in the Upper Columbia River Basin, British Columbia TABLE of CONTENTS
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Green BOATING GUIDE FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES THE WATER IN THE Upper Columbia River Basin, British Columbia TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 INTRODUCTION 4 A river and the place we call home 4 What is Green Boating? 5 How does boating impact waterways and aquatic life? 6 GREEN BOATING: THE WAY TO BE CLEAN AND GREEN 7 Cleaning up waste 8 Fuel 8 Engines 9 Oil spills 10 Solid waste 11 Cleaning your boat 12 Water and sewage 17 Boat Storage 20 Operating you boat 21 Personal watercraft and jetboats 23 Green boater checklist 24 PROTECTING SENSITIVE AREAS 25 Minimizing boating impacts on birds 26 Migrating birds 27 INVASIVE SPECIES OF CONCERN IN THE UPPER COLUMBIA BASIN 30 Identifying invasive species 33 PART OF THE SOLUTION 39 RESOURCES 40 The area discussed in this guide includes the streams, rivers and lakes in British Columbia that flow into the Columbia River. The suggestions and tips presented in this guide can be applied to any freshwater body you’re recreating on. 2 3 WHAT IS GREEN BOATING? Being a “green” boater means learning how to do what you love without damaging the ecosystem in which you do it. It also means educating yourself about what’s good and bad for the environment and how to be more responsible toward the wildlife that also call the Columbia Basin home. This guide is for everyone who THOUGH THIS GUIDE IS FOCUSED enjoys having fun on water in both GEOGRAPHICALLY ON THE UPPER motorized and non-motorized INTRODUCTION COLUMBIA RIVER, MANY OF THE boats. TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR GREEN BOATING ARE APPLICABLE By following the ideas and tips in this guide, you can help minimize TO OTHER FRESHWATER BODIES any negative effects boating IN CANADA A RIVER AND THE PLACE WE CALL HOME might have on your waterways - and you’ll likely save money and have more fun by doing so. The upper Columbia River Basin environment supports an exceptional quality of life for the people who live and visit here by providing clean water, fresh air, spectacular landscapes, and a range of outdoor recreation opportunities. Water bodies—including lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands—play a significant role in supporting the high quality of life in this region. Indeed, many of the region’s towns and tourist centers are located around the prominent waterbodies in the region, including the Columbia River, Kootenay Lake, Arrow Lake, Lake Revelstoke and Lake Windermere. Boating is an integral part of life for many of us who enjoy the upper Columbia Basin. But unless we are careful, the way we use and maintain our boats can have a big impact on the water bodies we love. 4 5 HOW DOES BOATING IMPACT WATERWAYS AND AQUATIC LIFE? The number and size of boats has been increasing on our waterways since the 1960s, and this trend is likely to continue. Boats impact aquatic ecosystems through movement, noise, physical contact, and toxins. There may be additional long-term impacts from boating that haven’t been discovered yet. GREEN BOATING THE WAY TO BEING CLEAN AND GREEN BOATING CAN IMPACT WATERWAYS THROUGH THE FOLLOWING MECHANISMS: As a boater, there is much you can do to ensure the future health of your lakes and other freshwater bodies. By following the ideas and tips in this section, you protect your fishing and recreating grounds— and you’ll save money. 6 7 GREEN WAYS TO FUEL YOUR BOAT CLEANING UP WASTE FUEL Spilling diesel fuel or gasoline while refueling is the most common polluting event on the water. Fuel spills and poorly maintained Oil spreads very quickly into a thin engines can cost us a bundle, sheen on top of the water, creating Part of the problem comes from the fact that most fuel dock pumps are able foul the water and damage fish a barrier to oxygen that normally to supply fuel much faster than small and medium-sized boats are able to and wildlife habitat. That makes moves across the water’s surface receive it. The “kickback” from adding fuel to a tank too quickly is a major the other things we do by water, and causing problems for both source of fuel spills. like fishing and swimming, animals and plants. Oil can poison a lot less pleasant, or even microscopic organisms living in impossible. water, and get on to the water- protective feathers and coats of Big oil spills are often featured animals, poisoning them as the on the news; we know those are groom and preen. bad for the environment. But it is not so widely recognized that Thus, just a little oil spilled in your even a few drops of oil can do a favourite lake or river can cause a lot of harm. significant amount of damage. SOME BACTERIA FOUND IN MINERAL-RICH WATER s Fuel your boat on land. CREATE AN OIL-LIKE FILM ON s Take your time when fueling your boat. THE WATER. YOU CAN TELL s Install a whistle in the line to warn when fuel tank level is nearly full. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN s Install an anti-surge valve in the fuel vent FUELING: BACTERIA AND OIL BY LIGHTLY line.. TAPPING THE WATER’S s Close the vent on portable gas tanks WHAT SURFACE – IF THE FILM when the engine is not in use. BREAKS UP AND STAYS APART s Transport and store gasoline out of direct IT’S BACTERIA; IF IT FLOWS sunlight in a cool, dry place. s Be prepared for spills: YOU BACK TOGETHER IT’S OIL. Wedge an absorbent pad into the same CAN DO side as the filler pipe. Wrap an absorbent pad or cloth around the nozzle before moving it. 8 9 GREENING YOUR ENGINE PREPARING TO CLEAN UP OIL SPILLS The single most important thing Sometimes accidents happen, no matter how careful we are. If you need to you can do to save on fuel costs ANOTHER STRIKE AGAINST clean up an oil spill, follow the tips below. and minimize water pollution is to 2-STROKE MOTORS: replace your 2-stroke engine with FEDERAL LAW Discharging pollutants like fuel into a waterway a 4-stroke engine. PROVINCIAL LAW A study* of motorized boat use is an offence under both the Federal Fisheries Act and the Provincial on a lake in California found that Most 2-stroke engines leave up to Environmental Management Act. People exhaust from 2-stroke outboard who pollute the water could be fined. 25% of their oil and gas unburned, motors contributed methyl tert- and leak it into the water instead. butyl ether (MTBE)—a possible These engines not only pollute air human carcinogen that imparts s Act quickly: Remember that a small spill and water, they waste $2.50 for can spread quickly. a noticeable taste and odor every $10 boaters spend on gas. s Place an absorbent oil-only mat pad over to drinking water in very low Four-stroke engines are well- the spill. concentrations — at a level sealed, quieter, produce very s When the pads are saturated, use gloves that exceeded drinking water and wring out the oil into a container little smoke, and burn fuel most standards. No one wants to drink for recycling. Dispose of the used pad efficiently. You might even pay for boat exhaust! properly. the cost of a four-stroke engine in *Reuter et al (1998) Concentrations, sources, and s Report all spills that reach the water! fate of the gasoline oxygenate methyl tert-butyl ether Even spills of less than a liter are a few years with your savings on (MTBE) in a multiple-use lake. Environmental Science fuel, maintenance, and repairs. and Technology. 32:3666-3672. significant. Who to Call Report spills or oil sheens of any size to: s Replace your 2-stroke engine with a 4-stroke engine. s B.C.’s Provincial Emergency Center: s Regularly maintain your engine to prevent 1-800-663-3456 or leaking seals, gaskets or hoses. ENGINES: s Environment Canada’s Spill Reporting SPILLS: s If your exhaust is not virtually invisible, Line 1-604-666-6100 or then your engine requires maintenance. s The local Conservation Officer service. WHAT s Collect all waste oils and antifreeze for WHAT recycling or disposal (most marinas You will be asked: or service stations will accept these wastes). s Where, when and how did the spill occur? YOU s Antifreeze is harmful to marine life: Use YOU CAN DO only when necessary. s What kind of pollution is it? CAN DO s If you use your boat primarily for low- s What is the size of the area affected? speed activities in calm water, consider s Is anything being done to clean it up? getting an electric motor with a battery and an outboard propeller. Keep a tray s You may also be asked for your name under your battery to catch acid spills. and phone number 10 11 SOLID WASTE CLEANING When a gust of wind comes up Cleaning is a regular part of boat ownership. Following the practices listed on the water, plastic bags and below will help you ensure that protecting waterways becomes part of your other loose items on a boat can cleaning routine. easily be blown into the water. Plastics and other items can CLEANING TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES release toxins into the water, and can kill animals when they Clean your boat after taking it out of the water to help ensure that plant become entangled in or ingest and animal species are not transferred to places they don’t belong.