Boat wash
The boat wash, operated by the Glen Lake Association on the north shore of Little Glen Lake, is the first line of defense in battling invasive species within the watershed. Invasive species are detrimental to the lake’s ecosystem and esthetic appeal, and can be costly and impossible to eradicate. Please help us protect the water by utilizing our boat wash before launching your boat, jet ski, kayak, paddle board, or canoe.
Did you know…
Invasive species, such as Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM) are most likely to enter Glen Lake as “hitchhikers” on watercraft or trailers. How so? Once a boat has been pulled out of a lake or stream, water remains in the watercraft – in the hull, within the motor’s cooling system, and inside of bait boxes, in live wells and on equipment. If your boat operates in an infested body of water, it can later carry eggs and larvae of quagga mussels, or EWM seed or fragment into the next lake you choose to enjoy, such as Glen Lake!
The heated pressure wash station at the launch site also kills VHS (Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia) – a viral fish disease present in nearby Lake Michigan waters.
Boat Wash Operation
The Glen Lake Association operates a free, hotwater, powerwash decontamination station at the Day Forest Road boat launch site. This is the ONLY boat wash within the Glen Lake/Crystal River Watershed.
Boat Wash Location
7075 W. Day Forest Rd., just west of M22
Operating Hours
Staffed 6 am – 7 pm, self service powerwash equipment available after hours
Dates of Operation
May-September, 7 days a week
October, Friday-Sunday, 7-3pm
Since its inception in 1996, this free service has eliminated contaminates from watercraft and associated equipment, as well as educated the public about how to keep our water clean and healthy.
Ensuring your boat, waterskis, wake boards, fishing pole lines (water flea) or PWC is cleaned and inspected prior to entering Glen Lake is the most effective method of protecting against destructive invasive species – both plant and animal. Our boat wash program makes it easy for you to do your part to protect the water!
Protect the watershed.
“Wash It Before you Launch It!”
Boat Wash FAQs
- More than 4,000 boats come through the Glen Lake boat wash station each year.
- Boats come to the Glen Lake area from all over the U.S., including Hawaii!
- An American Fisheries Society study which inspected 85 boats entering upper Michigan and northern Wisconsin lakes found that 19% had one or more plant fragments attached. The same study found that 63% of boats leaving the lakes carried plant fragments out with them
- This study also showed that high pressure washing reduced the number of aquatic plants and small bodied organisms on the watercraft hulls by 83% and 91%, respectively
Your Stewardship Matters
Your Financial Support Matters
Your Legacy Matters
