Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species Landing Blitz
The Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species Landing Blitz is a week long outreach event held across the Great Lakes basin to raise awareness about preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species. To learn about the basin wide effort visit the Great Lakes Commission Landing Blitz website.
In Michigan, local volunteers deliver consistent messaging (“Clean, Drain, Dry”) and educate boaters on the importance of preventing the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species at public and private boating access sites. Media (press releases, local news stories, social media, etc.) is also used to raise awareness of the event.
Register now to participate in the 2023 Landing Blitz!
This year’s Landing Blitz takes place July 1 – July 9, 2023. Organizations can choose any days within these dates to host an educational event at a boating access site. By registering to host an event you will receive free educational materials and learn best approaches to communicating with boaters.
To participate you must register your local Landing Blitz event with Kevin Walters at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (waltersk3@michigan.gov) by May 31, 2023. Include the following information:
- Host name and affiliation (both individual host name and lake association, CISMA, etc.)
- Location (lake/waterbody, county, ramp location)
- Date/s & time for your local event/s
- Mailing address where you would like outreach materials sent
What to expect from participating
At least 1 month in advance of the event organizers should:
- Select a boating access site/launch ramp and get any need approvals from site manager.
- Choose a date/s and time within the event period (Events can range from 1 hour on 1 specific date to several hours over multiple days).
- Assemble a landing blitz volunteer team (3-5 people is a good number).
- Register your landing blitz event by emailing Kevin Walters (EGLE) at waltersk3@michigan.gov.
- Share information about the event via social media, local media and neighborhood groups to help promote awareness.
- Receive your messaging information and outreach materials from EGLE via postal mail at the address indicated on your registration.
- Optional: Arrange for a boat wash to be present during your event.
June
- Tune into the pre-event teleconference to have questions answered and hear more about the event details. Teleconference information will be provided to all registered hosts sometime in May.
Just before the event:
- Meet with your volunteer team before the event and share messaging info.
Day of event
- Set-up outreach booth with materials.
- Talk to boaters and share outreach materials. The most important message for volunteers to share with boaters and anglers is to “Clean, Drain and Dry” boats, trailers and all equipment and gear after each use on any lake, river or stream to prevent spreading invasive plants and other aquatic invasive species from one water body to another.
- Record how many boaters you spoke to.
Post-event:
- Submit the event survey to Kevin Walters.
What do the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy do?
- Handle statewide coordination and promotion of the events
- Register event hosts
- Send out packets with messaging information and outreach materials. NOTE – The quantity of materials each host receives is dependent on availability and the total number hosts that need materials.
- Use statewide press and social media to advertise the overall AIS Landing Blitz event (Specific locations and dates for individual efforts are NOT included, as these can change with weather, etc.)
- Host a pre-event teleconference call to answer any questions and make sure all hosts are comfortable with the messaging and logistics of the events.
- Obtain Governor’s proclamation of “AIS Awareness Week” to coincide with Landing Blitz event period.
Watch this video from Michigan's first Aquatic Invasive Species Landing Blitz to learn more about the event.
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