A.22. SUMMARY OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT IN 
MASSACHUSETTS 
A.22.1. AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT PLAN 
Massachusetts’s Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan was published in 2002 (see 
Appendix B, State Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan Summaries for a general 
description of the Plan). 
A.22.2. AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES 
• Boat Ramp Monitor Program, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and 
Recreation (MA DCR), Office of Water Resources (OWR), Lakes and Ponds 
Program (LPP). Boat ramp monitors are positioned at lakes and ponds statewide to 
inspect boats and ensure that no plant fragments are attached to the boat, trailer, or gear. 
Boaters are given informational brochures and asked to participate in a voluntary boat 
inspection and complete a survey. LPP posts aquatic invasive species (AIS) posters in 
kiosks and metal reflective boat ramps at public access points to remind boaters to check 
their boats and trailers before entering or leaving a water body. 
• Weed Watchers Program, MA DCR, OWR, LPP. LPP schedules weed watcher 
training for any interested lake groups or associations. This program teaches groups how 
to check key areas such as inlets, outlets, and shallow areas. The training also teaches 
volunteers how to eradicate species. This program is modeled after New Hampshire’s 
weed watcher program. 
• Multi-lingual Education, MA DCR, OWR, LPP, Massachusetts Office of Coastal 
Zone Management (MOCZM). Lead by MOCZM with participation from LPP, this 
program developed multi-lingual brochures to distribute to specific groups (e.g., 
participants in the seafood trade who are Chinese). 
• Rapid Response Protocols, MA DCR, OWR, LPP. MA DCR paid a contractor to 
develop rapid response protocols for new and unknown AIS. 
• AIS Program, MOCZM. Recent projects by MOCZM include developing resources for 
early detection and rapid response to new invasions in Massachusetts, developing a 
Website to provide a single outlet for AIS information and resources in the state, and 
developing a marine invasive species monitoring network. The monitoring network uses 
a standardized protocol and identification resources developed with finding by MOCZM. 
The Office partnered with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sea Grant to 
develop a centralized marine invasive species data management system, as well as 
Massachusetts Bays National Estuary Program in an effort to train citizens to monitor 
along the coast. MOCZM has also taken steps to establish memoranda of understanding 
with state agencies to coordinate management and has launched efforts to engage the 
seafood and pet-store industry. 
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