Decontamination Warning

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Richard Couturier

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Let me start by saying I have and always will fully support all efforts to prevent the spread of these awful mussels. There is no intention of browbeating here I simply think there is an oversight to the newly developed policy. I hope someone reading this can reach out to the decision-makers and have a sensible resolution for L.P. visitors.

Bullfrog inspection station "As of Saturday has stopped performing decontaminations". If you have mussels on your boat you are to "Go to Offshore for decontamination". When Offshore does not have the resources to decontaminate your vessel they are required to quarantine your boat for 30 days. And I quote the technician at the inspection station "If you do not take your boat to Offshore immediately you have committed a felony". There are so many troubling possibilities I am not sure where to start.

As instructed to Offshore I went. Upon arrival at 1pm on Tuesday I was told that the man that performs the decons was not there today. Okay.... so if I leave my boat and you do it when you can, will you please put my covers back on? (21'boat). "No we won't do that". If I pay you to do that will you? "No".
So I need to pay for dry storage and the decontamination okay; any idea how long? "No I am not sure".

Ok, let's go across the street and see what they can do. No, they do not have authorization from DNR. Is this monopolistic?

So, here is a concern..... why have we allowed for one vendor or quarantine at one and the same business? What if I lived in Oklahoma, went to Powell for a few weeks, got mussels on my boat and want to take my boat home and the guy at Offshore has a day off, machine is down, dog ate his homework........etc.? Sorry, that is a felony and your boat stays here for 30 days.

I realize the severity of this issue. However if a 30 year L.P. lover cannot get a decon on a Tuesday I see some oversight and challenges with the newly adopted policy.

My story ended up okay however my greater concern is for those who follow. I did not write this simply to gripe but in hopes of someone taking action who might know the right people to contact? I would not know where to start and hoping this thread might find its way to the decision makers for realistic reconsideration.

Please do not turn this into a bashing - that is not the intent.

Best always,

Richard Couturier
 
Can someone confirm if it’s a felony to not get inspected I thought only if you are transporting mussels? On your boat
 
Sure hope they don't implement that at Wahweap.
We head that way Friday for a week, and I'm bringing my boat to tow behind the houseboat.
I live in Washington State and it would really suck to have to leave my boat there.
 
I felt as though implied it by stating that the boat need to be decontaminated. It did contain mussels after being in the water for 40 days. However the greater point is those who will be required to leave their boat behind. A ranger indicated to me they often find mussels on boats that have been beached within as little as two or three days.
 
STDofthesea.com website under Lake Powell frequently asked questions:
Knowingly transporting a watercraft with mussels attached could result in a Class A Misdemeanor charge. That charge may include fines up to several thousand dollars in addition to restitution for the decontamination of the watercraft. You could also face seizure and quarantine of your boat.
 
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO UPON LEAVING LAKE POWELL?
  • Make sure watercraft is clean of mud, plants and animals.
  • Stop for watercraft inspection at the inspection station IF it is open. Failing to stop is a violation and you can be cited and fined!
  • Drain all water from engine and interior compartments. A technician will assist you if the inspection station is open. Otherwise, this is your legal responsibility to do before leaving Lake Powell.
  • Transport your boat with all of your drain plugs removed.
Also from the website. BOLD ADDED FOR EMPHASIS
 
Of course, one would want to follow the rules and not spread the mussels to other bodies of water, but the NPS shouldn't make it difficult to decon if mussels are found.
Like me for instance, I live a day and a half away. I really can't be leaving my boat behind.
 
Wyrman said:
Sure hope they don't implement that at Wahweap.
We head that way Friday for a week, and I'm bringing my boat to tow behind the houseboat.
I live in Washington State and it would really suck to have to leave my boat there.
Click to expand...
I believe that's Richards point and I agree with him. If this is such a big deal(and it is) how can the authorities and their vendors be so cavalier in their attitudes. Because it does not directly affect them. Tell them that their car or truck will be impounded for a month and watch them squirm.
 
Here is the response from Julie Sabattis who is in charge of Wahweap Decontamination personnel.

New Decontamination Procedures at Launch Ramps - Julie Sabattis _UDWR

My name is Julie and I run the program at the south end of the Lake for UDWR. The mussels at Lake Powell have created situations and new challenges as the population continues to reproduce and the water levels drastically fluctuate seasonally. The primary issue we have seen this 2019 season is...
wayneswords.net wayneswords.net
 
We were told yesterday that Lake Powell would decon if you paid. We offered but the told us they didn't have the personnel. There were 4 govt employees sitting around and no one stopping. They do inspect the boats. They did mine, it is an outboard, found nothing and said it would need to be dry for 7 days and I would be good to go. My daughter has one of those fancy surf boat with bladders. They were told that they would have to have it decon at the next water they plan to enter, before they launch. What a mess.
 
Yikes, it’s just getting pawned off. Most every other place pre launch is going to be overwhelmed too... or no one will even be there to check boats pre 8am even on a busy day. I’ll seriously be surprised if places like Jordanelle make it clean through the summer.
 
Its totally unrealistic to tell someone they have to decon their boat, no one is available to do it and they are from Kansas going home after a 2 week vacation and they have to leave their boat here?
Let's get real here. It ain't gonna work folks!
Julie may be a very nice person but she offers no solutions to the thousands of out of staters that come here every month in the summer. And summer has begun.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for decon and not moving mussels but the solution has to be practical for everyone to buy in. An edict from on high won't do it. Nor will people stand for having their boat seized. I see lawsuits ahead. Give it another year and see where mussels pop up.
 
This is what my friend was told yesterday at Bullfrog: "yeah it’s even worse than that - the ranger said if they find a quagga they give you a ticket and even if you decon it somewhere else your boat is quarantined and you are on house arrest and they send a police officer or ranger to your home every seven days to inspect it. That is honest to goodness what she said. She said that started yesterday. I find it hard to believe actually but there you have it. "

There is no way this is going to happen and if so wouldn't it be cheaper to just decon the boat at Powell. The amount of misinformation almost seems designed to keep people away from Powell. Something needs to be done and said to those that are on the front lines.

Wayne can you confirm with NPS to find out what their position is?
 
The only folks I’ve seen running inspections at Wahweap are Utah DNR. And Wahweap is in Arizona.

Is NPS also involved/responsible for invasive species watercraft inspection?
 
Cliff said:
Its totally unrealistic to tell someone they have to decon their boat, no one is available to do it and they are from Kansas going home after a 2 week vacation and they have to leave their boat here?
Click to expand...

That's not unrealistic if the mussels are attached with byssal threads. Julie clearly noted that when watercraft is found with byssal thread attachment that not only is a decon required, but so is a mandatory 30 day quarantine.

It is a boaters responsibility to understand the requirements, and risks associated with boating on Lake Powell. If you plan on mooring your boat for 2 weeks at Powell, you should also plan on having a mussel issue, and your boat will need to go through proper protocol prior to transporting away from Powell.
 
Richard Couturier said:
Let me start by saying I have and always will fully support all efforts to prevent the spread of these awful mussels. There is no intention of browbeating here I simply think there is an oversight to the newly developed policy. I hope someone reading this can reach out to the decision-makers and have a sensible resolution for L.P. visitors.

Bullfrog inspection station "As of Saturday has stopped performing decontaminations". If you have mussels on your boat you are to "Go to Offshore for decontamination". When Offshore does not have the resources to decontaminate your vessel they are required to quarantine your boat for 30 days. And I quote the technician at the inspection station "If you do not take your boat to Offshore immediately you have committed a felony". There are so many troubling possibilities I am not sure where to start.

As instructed to Offshore I went. Upon arrival at 1pm on Tuesday I was told that the man that performs the decons was not there today. Okay.... so if I leave my boat and you do it when you can, will you please put my covers back on? (21'boat). "No we won't do that". If I pay you to do that will you? "No".
So I need to pay for dry storage and the decontamination okay; any idea how long? "No I am not sure".

Ok, let's go across the street and see what they can do. No, they do not have authorization from DNR. Is this monopolistic?

So, here is a concern..... why have we allowed for one vendor or quarantine at one and the same business? What if I lived in Oklahoma, went to Powell for a few weeks, got mussels on my boat and want to take my boat home and the guy at Offshore has a day off, machine is down, dog ate his homework........etc.? Sorry, that is a felony and your boat stays here for 30 days.

I realize the severity of this issue. However if a 30 year L.P. lover cannot get a decon on a Tuesday I see some oversight and challenges with the newly adopted policy.

My story ended up okay however my greater concern is for those who follow. I did not write this simply to gripe but in hopes of someone taking action who might know the right people to contact? I would not know where to start and hoping this thread might find its way to the decision makers for realistic reconsideration.

Please do not turn this into a bashing - that is not the intent.

Best always,

Richard Couturier
Click to expand...

Richard can you be more specific on "My story ended up okay however my greater concern is for those who follow." Let me know how you got decontaminated. How does your story compare to all those that are asking for decons in July?
 
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