Otago Regional Council (ORC) is launching its annual Check, Clean, Dry (CCD) campaign for summer.

Each year the regional council encourages lake users to do their part to contain the spread of freshwater pests like didymo and lagarosiphon between lakes by following the CCD principles.

The three steps are: ‘Check’ (remove any plant matter from equipment); ‘Clean’ (make up a mix of dishwashing detergent and water and leave items to soak for at least 10 minutes); and ‘Dry’ (ensure your gear is completely dry to touch, inside and out, before using it).

“Freshwater pests could squeeze the life out of our country's most precious rivers and lakes,” ORC environmental implementation acting manager Libby Caldwell said. 

“They can be spread by a single drop of water or plant fragment.”

She said tackling the issue is not only for fishers and boaties but all lake, river and stream users, including trampers, swimmers, kayakers, pack rafters and jet skiers.

“The message is to check any equipment used in water for lagarosiphon fragments and decontaminate all gear, including wetsuits, flotation devices, anchors and chains.”

The regional council has hired two CCD ‘advocates’ who will work from December 19 until February 15 to reinforce CCD messages with lakeside education. 

Libby said the ORC would be focusing on lakes and rivers in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago this summer.

While lagarosiphon is the greatest risk to all Otago’s waterways, the ORC is also working toward identification and education around other waterborne pest species like didymo and lake snow, which are already located in the region’s waterways, she said.

There is also surveillance work being undertaken for other aquatic pests so action can be taken if these show up

Two big threats, which are located in Canterbury waterways, are hornwort and egeria, she said.

The ORC’s CCD instructions:

Check - Remove any plant matter from your equipment and apparel and leave it at the river or lake bank, or put it in the rubbish. Don't wash plant material down any drain.

Clean – Think “10-10” – make up a 10 per cent mix of dishwashing detergent and water and leave the item wet for at least 10 minutes.

Dry - Ensure your gear is completely dry to touch, inside and out. Leave to dry for at least another 48 hours before using it; didymo can survive for months on moist gear.