SUN JOURNAL • September 2, 2023
Our state legislators have conjured up a new stern-drain law that will warm the cockles of your heart. Here it is: Effective June 16th, 2023, boaters are now required to do the following: “Prior to entering a water body and when preparing to leave launch sites, boaters are required to remove or open any devices designed for routine removal/opening (for example, hull drain plugs, bailers, live wells, ballast tanks) to encourage draining of areas containing water (excluding live bait containers). This must be done in a way that does not allow drained water to enter any inland water of the state.” Proponents of this law, no doubt well-intentioned, assert that many other states have this law and that is intended to minimize the introduction of invasive plants and organisms. ~ V. Paul Reynolds