DWR reminds Utah watercraft operators to be ready for invasive mussel inspections, checkpoints

ST. GEORGE — As summer draws near, watersport enthusiasts will begin taking to the water with boats, kayaks, paddleboards or whichever watercraft they prefer.

And whatever that happens to be, they can be subject to stops at inspection stations by wildlife officials focused on preventing the spread of invasive mussels to Utah waterbodies.

In addition to inspection stations, the state will conduct two administrative checkpoints on Interstate 70 on June 2.

Inspection stations

With the exception of Lake Powell, Utah’s waters are free of invasive quagga and zebra mussels, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. In order to keep it that way, over 40 inspection stations are set up across the state.

Utah law requires individuals transporting watercraft to stop at an inspection station when one is open and operating. In Washington County, these stations are located at the port-of-entry on Interstate 15 near the Arizona border and at Sand Hollow State Park. Click here for a map of inspection station locations.

Invasive quagga mussels, also known as the “STD of the Sea,” clustered together. The invasive species poses a threat to the ecology, water infrastructure and watercraft in the waterbodies it ends up infesting, Lake Powell, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, St. George News

Those who choose not to stop at an operating inspection point, such as the I-15 port-of-entry, may be subject to a class B misdemeanor, according to the DWR. Along with receiving a citation, the individual will be directed back to the station for watercraft inspection. Watercraft also can be detained or quarantined if the owner refuses to submit to an inspection.

If an inspection station is not open at the time someone transporting a watercraft is passing through, they remain responsible for making sure their watercraft is not contaminated with mussels.

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 obtain information about where that watercraft has been used during the last 30 days.

What counts as a “watercraft” under the state’s definition?

Motorboats and sailboats

Float tubes

Jet skis and wave runners

Paddleboards

Canoes

Kayaks

Trailers and vehicles that go into the water on a boat ramp

Administrative checkpoints

Per state law, DWR officials are authorized to conduct administrative checkpoints on various roadways throughout the year to help prevent the spread of invasive mussels.

A Utah Division of Wildlife Resources staff member inspects a boat for signs of quagga mussels at a Lake Powell boat inspection station, date not specified. | Photo courtesy of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, St. George News

These checkpoints are different from mandatory inspection stations at waterbodies and other areas because all vehicles — not just those transporting watercraft — will be directed off the road. The vehicles towing or hauling watercraft are directed to a separate area for inspections.

These checkpoints are approved in advance by a magistrate and require law enforcement officers to be present. The conservation officers ensure people are complying with the requirement to stop at inspection stations and make sure all watercraft have been cleaned and drained appropriately.

Cleaning and draining include making sure there is no water left onboard, including in live wells, ballast tanks and lower engine units, and that the watercraft is free of plants, mud and attached invasive species. Drain plugs must also be removed while in transit.

An administrative checkpoint for this year will be held:

  • Friday, June 2, from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., on the north side of I-70 at the Utah Department of Transportation weigh station, located at approximately milepost 186.
  • All watercraft traveling westbound on I-70 during the time of the checkpoint are required to stop for inspection.
In this file photo, a Division of Wildlife Resources conservation officer examines a dead quagga mussel found on a boat at a watercraft checkpoint on Highway 89 near Big Water, Utah, May 15, 2015 | Photo by Heather Talley, courtesy of DWR, St. George News

What is the problem with the mussels?

As an invasive species, the mussels can wreak havoc on the native environment while also damaging water infrastructure and boat motors, among other issues listed below.

  • They plug water lines, even lines that are large in diameter.
  • If they get into water delivery systems in Utah, it will cost millions of dollars annually to remove them and keep the pipes free, which can result in higher utility bills.
  • They remove plankton from the water, which hurts fish species in Utah.
  • Mussels get into a boat’s engine cooling system. Once they do, they’ll foul the system and damage the engine.
  • When mussels die in large numbers, they stink and the sharp shells of dead mussels also cut your feet as you walk along the beaches. They also smell bad.

A mussel was discovered in Sand Hollow Reservoir in 2010 yet failed to reproduce. The reservoir was proclaimed to be free of the invasive species by 2014 and has remained so since.

A more detailed breakdown of why the mussels are considered a threat to state waterbodies and how to stop their spread can be found on the STD of the Sea website.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

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