Conservation
Check, Clean, Dry: protect freshwater between adventures
Build a Check, Clean, Dry routine for water-contact gear and check current treatment instructions before moving between waterways.
Wet outdoor equipment can carry freshwater pests between waterways. Check, Clean, Dry applies to more than boats: think about footwear, paddles, fishing gear and anything else that has been in the water.
Make the change of waterway a checkpoint
- Check: inspect equipment for attached weed, mud and other material.
- Clean: use the current official method suitable for the equipment and pest risk.
- Dry: allow the required drying process before reuse.
A quick rinse is not a reliable replacement for the current treatment instructions. Invasive-clam controls and local restrictions can require specific precautions.
Plan the cleaning before the trip
Read Biosecurity New Zealand's current guidance before moving between lakes or rivers. Work out where you can clean and dry the gear without sending dirty water or chemicals into a waterway. Check restrictions at both the place you leave and the place you intend to visit.
Use a practical gear routine
Keep wet items together in a suitable container for transport, then open and deal with them promptly at home. I would make a short list of all water-contact items, including straps and footwear that are easy to forget. If the next outing is too soon to complete the required cleaning and drying, change the plan or use separate clean equipment. DOC identifies didymo, lindavia and invasive clams among the pests this routine helps prevent spreading.
Read next: Your first kayaking trip: choose the water before the gear.
Current Biosecurity New Zealand treatment instructions.
Sources and photo credit
Information checked 29 September 2026.
Photo: nut.in.a.hut. Original photograph; CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized for web display.
