In 2012, the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia (ISCBC) developed and implemented a provincial Clean Drain Dry (CDD) behaviour change program. The goal of the program is to prevent introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) by educating boaters and encouraging them to change their behaviour by committing to clean, drain and dry their boats before entering another water body.
Over the four year span of the program, delivery of the CDD message has been very successful.
From 2012 to 2015, CDD messaging has been shared at 1,823 education and outreach events in 280 communities across British Columbia. It is estimated that the CDD message has reached 116,882 boaters, youth, and members of the public. Through these efforts, approximately 4,280 verbal and 5,425 written clean drain dry commitments have been secured. These results show that the program has been successful at reaching boaters with the CDD message. The CDD message is a positive one that encourages boaters to make simple behavioural changes that enable them to play an integral role in protecting BC’s environment, economy and citizens from AIS.
The Canadian Council on Invasive Species (CCIS) has determined that the Clean Drain Dry Program should be effectively and efficiently delivered with a national scope in the future. The Ambassador program can be enhanced through developing a range of delivery methods for the CDD message, to more easily incorporate it into partner's programs — with the aim to strengthen the profile of the CDD program across Canada.