Paddleboarder urges Colorado water users to clean, drain and dry gear to stop aquatic invaders

A paddleboarder warned that aquatic nuisance species are a growing threat to Colorado’s water resources and urged water users to "clean, drain and dry" their gear to prevent infestations.

The speaker said invasive mussels, plants and other invertebrates could take over lakes and rivers, harming paddling and drinking-water reliability. "Paddle boarders like me, we're a pain in the ANS," the attendee said, using the common shorthand for aquatic nuisance species. The speaker recommended cleaning, draining and drying equipment between uses regardless of where users travel.

The comment emphasized recreational and public-health risks: "An infestation could mean losing our paddling, reliable drinking water, and so much more," the attendee said. The speaker added, "The future of Colorado's waters are in our hands and on our boards, so let's all be a pain in the ANS and stop aquatic invaders in their tracks."

The remarks were presented as public comment and did not include or record any formal motion, vote or staff direction in the transcript. They were a call to individual preventive action rather than a proposal for a regulatory or funding change.