How Does Kayaking Affect the Environment?
5-minute read
Kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, packrafting—these paddlesports are amazing ways to enjoy nature, get some exercise and have fun with others. But how do they affect the environment, both positively and negatively?
(Photo by Andrew Strain)
Positive Effects of Kayaking on the Environment
Generally, kayaking is a light-impact activity. Here are three positive effects kayaking (and paddling overall) can contribute to the health of our natural environment:
1. Kayaking is human-powered
This gives the double benefit of not using carbon-based fuels while providing human(s) with a great physical workout and a mental health boost.
Using a paddle instead of a motor to propel your boat means fuel isn’t leaking into the waterways. Even using an electric motor (which is cleaner) means you have to rely on a large battery. These batteries can harm the environment in their production and when it comes time to discard them.
Anytime we can go human-powered in our outdoor activities (like kayaking) it’s better for the environment. If you want to do even more, carpool with your friends to the launch whenever possible.
2. Kayaking can connect us with wildlife
When we’re fortunate, we get to see local wildlife while we kayak. It can be water birds and fish on a river, deer along the shoreline or seals in the ocean—it’s always amazing to get glimpses of the animals around us.
Seeing these creatures in their natural environment fosters appreciation for them. We get excited about sharing our wildlife sightings with others. And these experiences sometimes spur us to want to help protect them by joining conservation efforts, locally, statewide and nationally.
(Photo by Five2Nine)
3. Kayaking fosters environmental awareness
Kayaking also fosters environmental awareness and a strong connection with the natural world. We love to gaze into clean water, admire wildflowers blooming along the shoreline and enjoy being outdoors.
This awareness causes many kayakers to take an active role in keeping our waters clean. This can involve:
- Simply removing trash from the water while they’re paddling
- Getting involved at the local level in river or lake cleanup efforts
- Becoming a member of a local, regional or national environmental organization as a volunteer and/or donor
How Kayaking Can Negatively Affect the Environment
Despite its light-impact nature, kayaking can affect the environment negatively too, especially if we’re not careful. Here are four not-so-good effects of paddling:
1. Kayakers can disturb wildlife
Even while we love the experience of encountering wildlife of all kinds while we kayak, it’s important not to disturb it. This is especially true with nesting waterbirds and any animal with its young but includes all wildlife.
In urban areas, local animals become very used to people. When a deer doesn’t even lift its head when people are around, we know it’s not disturbed. But it’s still important to keep your distance. Animals are always unpredictable. Take advantage of zoom lenses and binoculars rather than paddling up too close.
It’s even more important to keep your distance with rural and wilderness kayaking. Enjoy viewing the animals—whether they’re on the shore or in the water—from a distance that’s safe for both you and the animals. Leave nesting animals alone and leave nests alone.
(Photo by Andrew Strain)
2. Indiscriminate launching can erode the shoreline
Pulling your kayak onto the shore, walking on the shore, building campfires—all these activities can damage and eventually erode shoreline. Emergencies may require it but in our everyday paddling, we can strategize our shore activity for minimal impact.
Some ways to do this are:
- Only use designated launches for getting on and off the water.
- Only camp and picnic in designated campsites or along durable shorelines—like boulders and gravel. Sand bars can be good choices as they constantly change anyway. Try to avoid trampling too much vegetation.
- If you need to portage, stay on the trail.
3. Pollution
Pollution can be the obvious tossing trash into the water or up on the shore. But there are other kinds of pollutants you may not think about. Most sunscreens and insect repellants are full of chemicals that are harmful to the environment. If you spray or rub down and then go swimming during your paddle day, all those chemicals leach into the waterway.
So, if you plan to swim, use only bio-friendly products for your sunscreen, bug repellent, lip balm, et cetera.
Learn and follow Leave No Trace guidelines. Pack all your trash and food waste to take out when you’re done kayaking. (You can even bring a small garbage bag along to collect any trash you see along the waterway as you paddle.)
(Photo by Forged from the Wild)
4. Spread of invasive species
The spread of invasive aquatic species from one body of water to another has become an environmental nightmare. Many states now have strict regulations and inspection sites to help prevent this spread. We can all do our part as paddlers, too.
Boats, paddles, trailers, pedal drives—all of them can become contaminated with bits of these invasive plants. The best prevention for spreading them is to wash your gear thoroughly after every trip.
Develop a habit of cleaning and draining your kayak’s hull, your paddle blades and anything else that was in the water. Clean them the best you can before you leave the area and finish when you get home so they’re ready for your next outing.
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As members of the paddlesports community, let’s thoroughly enjoy and help protect the natural environment we depend on. And let’s all do our part to mitigate negative impact on the ecosystem around us.
In the long run that will make kayaking and other paddling activities enjoyable for generations to come!
What paddling questions can our friendly Customer Service team help you with? Contact us here: 715-755-3405 or [email protected]
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