April 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 36

YAMAHA RIGHTWATERS
as northern snakehead, blue catfish
and flathead catfish. The contest
sought the help of recreational anglers
to gather information on the
prevalence of these harmful fish
across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
This information is shared
with researchers
to
help understand
the impact of these species
on the watershed.
In addition to combating the
spread of non-Indigenous
Additionally, Yamaha Rightwaters
supports Wildlife Forever's " Clean
Drain Dry " campaign, a campaign
seeking to educate boaters on the
importance of properly preparing to
move their vessels from the water to
prevent the spread of such species.
Some non-Indigenous
species are
species
directly, Yamaha Rightwaters' efforts
include connecting experts together
to help educate the public and enact
change on management practices.
Yamaha Rightwaters Pro Anglers
Mark Menendez and Ish Monroe
participated in the Aquatic Invasive
Species Blue Ribbon Commission to
facilitate discussion about the negative
effects of aquatic non-Indigenous
species, including Asian carp, on
state fisheries management as well as
boating and fishing access. The commission
convened leading biologists,
environmentalists, policymakers and
resource managers to assess existing
mitigation efforts and identify more
effective eradication solutions.
Research organizations and universities worldwide continue
to work tirelessly to tackle newly emerging and ever-present
environmental challenges.
so small that they are nearly invisible
to the naked eye. Zebra mussels are
a small freshwater mussel that have
been ravaging U.S. waterways since
the late 20th century. Originally Indigenous
to fresh waters in Europe
and Asia, the zebra mussel likely was
introduced to the United States via
ballast waters released into the Great
Lakes. These mussels spread across
the country, causing immense damage
to hydroelectric dams and municipal
water systems and outcompeting
Indigenous invertebrates in the waters
they invade.
Restoring and Creating
Marine Habitats
Marine habitats are particularly sensitive
to changes in water quality, soil
disturbances and habitat destruction.
The development of human
settlements throughout hundreds of
years caused measurable changes to
the environment, and many species
continue to struggle to adapt.
Understanding the importance
of key types of marine habitats, Yamaha
Rightwaters partnered with
Ducks Unlimited on the Ducks
Unlimited Gulf Coast Initiative in
2021. Identifying three opportunities
to repair previously degraded
habitat, Yamaha Rightwaters
and Ducks Unlimited worked to
restore the areas to their previous
state and beyond, providing environments
important to ducks and
other migratory species, as well
as fish, invertebrates, and a wide
variety of plants and animals that
had otherwise been displaced. Last
year saw the completion of the final
improvements to the Coastal
Marsh Restoration projects. In the
coming years, Ducks Unlimited
and Yamaha Rightwaters will track
the development of the restored
areas and document how the improved
areas affect the surrounding
environment over time. As more
vegetation builds on what was introduced,
the ability of the restorations
to help combat flooding
and erosion will increase, ensuring
that coastal communities gain protection
for decades to come.
Supporting Academic
Marine Research
Research organizations and universities
worldwide continue to work
tirelessly to tackle newly emerging
and ever-present
environmental
challenges. From continental lakes
to salty estuaries and the deepest
parts of the sea, scientists are
searching for answers to modern
problems with natural solutions.
Once the
largest
producer
of
oysters in the country, the state of
Georgia lost much of its oyster pop36
Parks & Recreation | APRIL 2 0 2 4 | PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G
PHOTO COURTESY OF YAMAHA RIGHTWATERS
April 2024 – Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2024 – Parks & Recreation
