Drain, Clean and Dry

For citizens boating in Wyoming, there are some key steps to help protect the waters from aquatic invasive species. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reminds watercraft users of how to comply with the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) laws and regulations.

Here are some of the key points to remember:

• Boat inspections: Law requires anyone transporting a watercraft to stop at all open check stations regardless of residency or previous inspection.

• Check stations are used to ensure boaters “Drain, Clean and Dry” after leaving the water.

• Boat inspections are also available at Game and Fish Regional Offices during normal business hours.

• Any watercraft transported into Wyoming from Mar. 1 through Nov. 30 must undergo a mandatory inspection by an authorized inspector prior to launching.

• Any person transporting a watercraft that has not left the state and who did not encounter a mandatory aquatic invasive species check station prior to reaching a water of the state may launch without further inspection.

• Any watercraft that has been in water infested with zebra/quagga mussels within the last 30 days, is required to undergo a mandatory inspection by an authorized inspector prior to launching during all months of the year.

• Watercraft must be registered with the Game and Fish.

• Watercraft used on Wyoming waters must display an AIS Decal. The only exception are non-motorized inflatable watercraft 10-feet in length or less. While these watercraft are not required to have a decal, they do require an inspection when coming out of the state.

Zebra and quagga mussels clog boat motor cooling systems, foul watercraft hulls and equipment and clog water delivery systems used for power plants, irrigation and domestic water use — increasing maintenance costs — costs that are all passed onto the user. These mussels also remove plankton from the water resulting in the potential collapse of fish population.