Boaters must stop at inspection stations to help prevent the spread of mussels
By Faith Jolley
What can cut your bare feet on a sandy beach and can also potentially cost taxpayers millions of dollars by getting into the wrong waterway? If you guessed zebra and quagga mussels, you’d be correct.
In order to prevent the spread of these invasive species throughout Utah, several of the annual mandatory inspection stations have opened for the busy summer season. There will be more inspection stations this year than in past years. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah State Parks would like to remind boaters and anyone with a watercraft that they are required to stop at each of these inspection stations.
What counts as a “watercraft” and would require someone to stop?
Watercraft includes the following:
—Motorboats and sailboats.
—Jet skis and wave runners.
—Canoes.
—Kayaks.
—Float tubes.
—Trailers and vehicles that go into the water on a boat ramp.
—Other personal watercraft.
“Basically, if it floats, it’s a boat,” said Scott Dalebout, DWR statewide operations lieutenant. “Anyone transporting any watercraft is required to stop at these mandatory inspection stations. We have been tasked with doing everything possible to keep quagga mussels contained in Lake Powell as well as other infested waters outside of Utah and out of the rest of the waters in the state. These inspection stations are conducted to eradicate and prevent the infestation of these invasive species.”
The mandatory inspection stations at Lake Powell and at the I-15 St. George point of entry are open year-round. All watercraft traveling north on I-15 must stop at the St. George station. Several other stations around the state are currently open for the summer boating season or will be open once fully staffed, including at Pineview Reservoir, Bear Lake, Utah Lake, Flaming Gorge, and the state parks with waterbodies.
The station at the Daniels Canyon point of entry along U.S. 40 will open this weekend. Only vehicles that are traveling up the canyon with watercraft, southwest out of Heber City and Provo, need to stop. Vehicles with watercraft traveling the opposite way down the canyon, northwest toward Heber City, are not required to stop.
Mandatory inspection stations will be opening later as staffing and access allow at Fish Lake, Panguitch Lake, and Joes Valley Reservoir. These stations will remain open during the boating season.
You can see a map of all the decontamination stations across the state here.
What happens at an inspection station?
When a boater stops at a mandatory inspection station, Aquatic Invasive Species professionals will check the watercraft for attached quagga and zebra mussels and for standing water. They also examine boats to ensure the drain plugs have been removed and have not been reinstalled. They will also get information about what waterbodies that watercraft has been on during the last 30 days.
What happens if someone transporting a watercraft doesn’t stop at the station?
State law mandates that all watercraft stop at an operating inspection station. Anyone who doesn’t stop is guilty of a class B misdemeanor. Along with receiving a citation, the individual will be directed back to the station to get their watercraft inspected. A watercraft can also be detained or quarantined if the owner refuses to submit to an inspection.
“Violations are addressed aggressively,” Dalebout said. “Even if you haven’t been out on the water yet, all watercraft need to stop.”
Administrative checkpoints
In addition to the inspection stations, DWR officials also conduct administrative checkpoints on various roadways throughout the year. These are different than mandatory inspection stations because all vehicles, not just those transporting watercraft, will be directed off the road. Then the vehicles towing or hauling watercraft are directed to the operation areas for inspections.
These checkpoints are approved in advance by a magistrate and require law enforcement officers to be present.
“There are many reasons for how we’ve been able to contain quagga mussels to just Lake Powell,” Dalebout said. “Getting the necessary funding for the Aquatic Invasive Species program has been a huge component, as well as our partnerships with local water managers and other organizations. Our program includes these inspection stations, very dedicated staff educating the public about these invasive species and an aggressive law enforcement effort. The majority of boaters have also been very compliant and great to work with. Without public support, we can’t succeed in this effort.”
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