For the fourth consecutive season, the Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) has partnered with the St. Lawrence Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (SLELO PRISM) to administer the Watercraft Inspection Stewardship Program (WISP). WISP Stewards will work to educate the public on actionable ways that boaters and anglers can help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS).

Additionally, the program collects survey data that is used to both track the spread of AIS and inform invasive species management decisions throughout the nation.

Since 2020, TILT’s watercraft inspection stewards have completed more than 32,350 surveys and reached over 78,000 people. An average of 95% of boaters and anglers agreed to an inspection meaning that over 30,000 people learned how to inspect their vessel and equipment for AIS.  During these surveys, over 2,775 individual AIS specimens were intercepted and removed from boats and equipment, preventing the spread of these organisms to other water bodies. Additionally0 ,of those surveyed, 19% resided outside of New York, representing 43 US states and Canadian Provinces.

The scope of these interactions shows just how valuable a program like WISP is to protecting and conserving our land and waters in the Thousand Islands region and beyond. From water quality to biodiversity, and even safeguarding our River way of life, it's clear that stewardship is essential.

As we begin another WISP season, we are grateful for our partnership with SLELO PRISM and the hard work of all of our stewards. We wish to remind boaters and anglers to Clean-Drain-Dry their vessels and equipment and help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species wherever the summer boating season takes them.