06/05/2026
Not everyone knows, but we sell many systems for reclamation dredging and Dredging for milfoil and other invasive species. This book, which is only available on Amazon, is 149.95. So if you are setting up a DASH boat, this one-time investment will save you thousands.
DASH: The Complete Guide to Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting: A Practical Handbook for Lake Associations on Planning, Building, and Operating a DASH Program
by Tom Kindred (Author) Format: Paperback
THE COMPLETE FIELD MANUAL FOR VOLUNTEER DASH PROGRAMS
Aquatic invasive plants are choking lakes across North America. They damage native vegetation, degrade fish habitat, reduce water quality, and threaten the recreational and economic value of freshwater lakes that entire communities depend on.
Communities searching for solutions quickly discover that the available options are deeply flawed. Chemical treatments are controversial. Manual pulling rarely keeps up with regrowth. Mechanical harvesting is expensive and often causes significant ecological disturbance.
Diver-Assisted Suction Harvesting — DASH — is different.
It is targeted, low-impact, and accessible to community-based lake associations. When properly designed and operated, DASH allows trained crews to selectively remove invasive vegetation while protecting native ecosystems.
Many lake associations manage invasive vegetation in water shallower than 6 feet (2 metres), where no diver or breathing apparatus is required. The same suction technology and program frameworks in this guide apply equally to these shallow-water operations.
But building a safe, legal, and effective DASH program is far more complex than it appears. Volunteer groups frequently encounter regulatory confusion, equipment design mistakes, safety gaps, and operational challenges long before they ever put a diver in the water.
DASH: The Complete Guide to Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting is the first comprehensive field manual designed specifically for volunteer lake associations planning, building, and operating a DASH program.
Drawing on the experience of the CLEAR (Crystal Lake Emergency and Aquatic Response) program — one of Canada's most successful community-led DASH initiatives — this guide provides a practical framework for launching and sustaining a program that works.
What this guide covers
Feasibility assessment tools before committing major resources
Regulatory navigation in Canada and the United States, including permit requirements, OHS classifications, and standby diver rules
DASH boat design, jet log configuration, calibration, and troubleshooting
Rent-versus-build-versus-buy decision frameworks
Operational planning, crew roles, safety briefings, and productivity benchmarks
Breathing system selection and related regulatory implications
Volunteer training, safety culture, and emergency response procedures
Fundraising, insurance, and long-term financial sustainability
Community engagement, governance, and stakeholder communication
Post-season evaluation and multi-year program development
Also includes: a complete business plan template, volunteer management tools, operational checklists, a full glossary, and an acronym reference.
Who this guide is for
Lake associations, cottage owner groups, and watershed committees are building a new DASH program or formalizing an existing one.
Municipal governments, conservation authorities, and lake management organizations evaluating DASH as a vegetation management strategy.
Dive team leaders, volunteer coordinators, equipment builders, and technical staff responsible for operating or supporting DASH systems.
Researchers and environmental managers seeking documented program design and operational protocols.
Built on real program experience
This guide is not a theoretical overview. The feasibility scoring tools, cost models, safety protocols, operational checklists, and program frameworks presented in this book were developed through real-world implementation.
If your lake is under threat and your community is ready to act, this guide provides the framework to build a responsible, effective, and sustainable DASH program.
