LANSING — With many people headed out to enjoy paddle sports along Michigan’s rivers, streams and lakes this season, Michigan State University Extension is spreading the word about a class that prepares paddlers to help protect the waters by identifying and reporting aquatic species they encounter.

The MI Paddle Stewards online program from Michigan Sea Grant and Michigan State University Extension will help paddlers “learn about invasive species, how to properly clean a watercraft, and how to report invasive species,” according to a recent Michigan State University Extension article on the program.

Participants can learn about how to protect Michigan waters in five sessions that last 30-45 minutes and spread the word on invasive species to friends and fellow paddlers, the article states.

“Aquatic invasive species are plants, fish, snails, viruses, and other organisms that move into and colonize ecosystems where they don’t belong, usually damaging native species and water quality in the process,” according to the article. “Often, aquatic invaders are transported by humans — as live bait, planted in flower gardens, imported for fish ponds, carried in the bellies of shipping freighters — or plant material snagged on kayak rudders and stranded in puddles at the bottom of poorly drained canoes. If a non-native stowaway is still alive when the boat splashes into the next water body, the invader could find itself in fresh territory.”

The MI Paddle Stewards course costs $20 and participants who complete the class will receive a bucket hat, stickers and more, but the class is free for those choose not to receive the items. Participants will have access to complete all 5 sessions of the course until Dec. 31. Register online at https://bit.ly/paddlestewards.

MSUE is also spreading the word about the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network app, which is a tool used by Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources and others to locate invasive species of concern, as “using this app allows paddlers to help with the early detection of invasive species in their area,” according to MSUE.

For those who are looking for new water trails, MSUE recommends the Michigan Water Trails website at www.michiganwatertrails.org.

Users can find trail maps, safety information and other paddling resources. The site catalogs more than 3,000 miles of trails across the state.

For questions and more information about either the MI Paddle Stewards online course or the Michigan Water Trails website, contact MSU Extension educator Mary Bohling at bohling@msu.edu. She also offers regular updates on news about Michigan Water Trails through an MSU Extension news digest. Register online to sign up for the Water Trails digest.

The MI Paddle Stewards program was funded by the Michigan Invasive Species Grant program.

For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI 888-678-3464.