Decontamination Warning

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PBH said:
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.
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If all the states honored a decontamination at Lake Powell I would probably agree with you. But they don't. At least Colorado doesn't. So if my boat gets decontaminated at Powell, I have to take it home and get it deconed again. Which is why I wouldn't wait or pay for a decontamination in Utah.

I'm not sure how a national registration system would work, but that seems to be what is needed. Record the boats registration numbers when they go in/out of Powell. And make sure that they are decontaminated before they launch at the next clean lake.

If someone from out of state risks having their boat quarantined hundreds (or thousands) of miles away from home, they will likely circumvent the system (which is pretty easy to do right now). Which will increase the risk of spreading the mussels.

I hate to be defeatist, but at this point with as much as the system is still "evolving", I find it very difficult to believe that the infestation will be confined to Powell. It seems inevitable that it will spread.
 
Ryan said:
If all the states honored a decontamination at Lake Powell...
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None of that matters if your boat has mussels attached to the hull with byssal threads - which will happen if your boat is on the lake for a 2 week period like the OP mentioned they were. It is still illegal to transport an infected boat. Period. If you have mussels attached to the hull of your boat, they must be cleaned and an associated quarantine period may apply prior to transport.

This is where the issue in this thread comes from -- the OP spent 2 weeks at Powell. The decon station sent them to OffShore because it takes considerably longer to decon a boat that has been on the water that long (ie: bysall thread attachment vs. static attachment).

The lesson learned here is: if you plan to have your boat on the water at Lake Powell for 2 weeks (or longer) then you need to plan accordingly to go through the proper procedure for decontamination, including a possible quarantine period.

for others who are spending less time (2-5 days?) a standard decon may be adequate. Maybe not.
 
When we loaded our boat last Aug. at AP we pulled half way up ramp and to the
far right. Set the brakes and chocked a wheel. This was to facilitate the CLEAN,
DRAIN, and DRY rule while the darn thing was still wet and on a good grade for draining the bilge. One does not have much time for that when it's 95 deg. and windy.
Meanwhile the lady at the top of the ramp kept waving and signaling to pull up
to her position. I told my wife to ignore her. Ramp was hardly being used at the time.
We did our thing and after 10 or 15 minutes then pulled up to the inspection area.
Very few words were said. We did pass and got a seal. Thing is we were headed back to Oklahoma and as mention earlier in this thread it would make no sense to keep my boat for 30 days. I would keep on driving. 100 miles south then 800 miles east.
Like Powelldreamer says, there is too much disinformation at this time.
 
PBH said:
None of that matters if your boat has mussels attached to the hull with byssal threads - which will happen if your boat is on the lake for a 2 week period like the OP mentioned they were. It is still illegal to transport an infected boat. Period. If you have mussels attached to the hull of your boat, they must be cleaned and an associated quarantine period may apply prior to transport.

This is where the issue in this thread comes from -- the OP spent 2 weeks at Powell. The decon station sent them to OffShore because it takes considerably longer to decon a boat that has been on the water that long (ie: bysall thread attachment vs. static attachment).

The lesson learned here is: if you plan to have your boat on the water at Lake Powell for 2 weeks (or longer) then you need to plan accordingly to go through the proper procedure for decontamination, including a possible quarantine period.

for others who are spending less time (2-5 days?) a standard decon may be adequate. Maybe not.
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Lake Powell is largely a destination lake. I don't know what % of the people that use it come from more than 250 miles away, but on the north end I would say it is probably 95%. Honestly, with how remote it is, might be 100%.

In life, there is a perfect world, and the world we live in. It is completely unrealistic to think that people are going to leave their boat 8 + hours away from home. Sorry, it isn't going to happen.

Don't read this as I am supporting proliferation of mussels (although more and more I believe it is largely inevitable). I am telling you there needs to be another way to slow their migration.
 
If every single boat that had entered Powell in the last 20 years had been
inspected AND deconed, we would still have the mussels. Simply
put the decon is not a complete one. Too many variables.
But I can understand those up North of Powell making every effort
to keep them downstream.
 
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Jimbo said:
We did pass and got a seal. Thing is we were headed back to Oklahoma and as mention earlier in this thread it would make no sense to keep my boat for 30 days. I would keep on driving. 100 miles south then 800 miles east.
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But you passed the inspection. Had you had visible mussels attached via byssal threads to the hull of your boat, you would not have been allowed to "keep on driving", let alone drive 100 miles south then 800 miles east. Rather, you would have been instructed on what to do next, including a full decon and possibly a mandatory 30 day quarantine. Had you rejected, law enforcement would have been involved.

That's what you guys keep missing.
If you don't have attached mussels, then they might still do a decon with hot water to kill veligers. They might not, depending on how you answer their questions, including "where / when do you plan on using the boat next".

Nobody expects a clean boat to be forced to stay behind.
I expect an infested boat to be cleaned, and dry (30 days?) before it goes anywhere else.
 
Like Ryan said, there needs to be some standardized system between states and governments to help with this problem, it would be a lot simpler for all involved. My boat is most likely permanent here at Lake Powell so not a real issue for me, yet, it may eventually go back home to Colorado, at which time I will have to deal with it. And checking with other states, Missouri has several lakes that have these mussels, Lake of the Ozarks, Truman and several others since around 2006 or so, Kansas has some also, what are they doing to watercraft coming and going ? It would help if all agencies involved could come together on regulations, most likely won't happen though.
 
PBH I think you are missing my point.
Some smart people check the rules (not everyone does, could be their first trip here ever, could be their first trip in their first boat, maybe they have never even heard of a quagga where they live), they see that decon is available at Wahweap and they come on over. They launch, have fun and come back to the dock, pull out and want to or are told they have to decon. No problem. Having checked or read before coming that decon was being done at Wahweap they need it done no argument, but now when its time to go home, they can't get it done and they are required to leave their boat here? What's wrong with this picture? Likewise to those who have never even heard of a quagga.

Again, I am in full support of the procedures BUT the remedies have to be available to handle the influx of expected traffic OR the public won't buy into it.

Regardless of whether or not they check the rules, the decon service has to be available to handle all the boats needing it here at the lake where the issue is. This is a 24 hr lake. To say that they are tired and can't do it, they are out to lunch and can't handle it or that there are so many that they can't handle it doesn't solve the problem.

To opine that the authorities are "trying" to get more facilities doesn't solve the problem. Poor planning doesn't solve the issue either. An edict from on high doesn't solve the issue either.

We get 10s of thousands of visitors every summer. It isn't too much of a stretch to visualize that thousands of them will need decon. Staff planning and facility approvals should have been the first item on the list last winter NOT "maybe" now if they rally wanted to solve the problem. As it is now, its just being pushed off on some other lake or area.

Now my final issue that strikes me as egregious. If found with a quagga tied on and decon'd they are now told that they have a 30 day drying out period. THIS should have been a notification with full and broad distribution to all news outlets. BIG notices at all launch ramps that if you launch here and we find quaggas on you you will be dry docked for 30 days where ever you are. No more family boating vacations for a full month if you launch here.
AGAIN, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO THE REMEDY only the notification means as a surprise to boaters who come here, especially those from out of state. The remedy for quaggas is fine, they implementation of the remedies is woefully lacking.

My prediction is that this is going to work out about as well as it did in trying to stop quaggas from coming to Powell in the first place. A day late and a dollar short. Science had better figure out a way to live with them or eliminate them. If it doesn't, all the "procedures " in the world will only delay the inevitable.
 
Hate to say it but quagga will spread like wildfire. When the government a.k.a. Curios george is out hunting snipe it is inevitable. They work bankers hours, hire interns, waste money, resources and in my opinion don’t care unless their budget gets passed or inflated. Too many decisions made by people in Washington D.C. in a room without windows.
 
WaterDog19 said:
Like Ryan said, there needs to be some standardized system between states and governments to help with this problem, it would be a lot simpler for all involved. My boat is most likely permanent here at Lake Powell so not a real issue for me, yet, it may eventually go back home to Colorado, at which time I will have to deal with it. And checking with other states, Missouri has several lakes that have these mussels, Lake of the Ozarks, Truman and several others since around 2006 or so, Kansas has some also, what are they doing to watercraft coming and going ? It would help if all agencies involved could come together on regulations, most likely won't happen though.
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That is another huge issue here. The State of Utah, NPS, and other entities are acting like this is a brand new problem, and are trying to invent the wheel. The fact of the matter is that this problem has been around the US for decades. And other agencies have been trying to manage (or mismanage) it for that same amount of time. What do the other lakes on the Colorado River system do for boats coming/leaving?

Utah/NPS could come up with a 100% perfect protocol (and what we have now is far from it), and Quagga/Zebra is still going to spread because other infected lakes are doing nothing or not enough.

It seems at some point in time you will need to focus efforts on the lakes you want to keep clean.
 
Jimbo said:
Just a little more whining. If you are quarantined, where and who is responsible for
for the boat? I have 8k of electronics and more. My boat rarely sees more than
10 days of direct sun. I know this is selfish thinking but....
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Jimbo,
I don't think that is selfish thinking at all, we all care about our boats and take care of them probably better than some of our other possessions, and definitely some may have a lot of money tied up in electronics and other equipment.

I know this is has nothing to do with Quagga Mussels, but the program shows that different agencies can work together on issues, and that is the IGBST, this is the Inter Agency Grizzly Bear Study Team, comprised of NPS, US Fish and Wildlife, Forest Service, Wyo, Id. and Montana Fish and Game personnel that all work on the same thing, Grizzly Bears. Based in Montana, they work entirely with all things related to Grizzly Bears. Something like this could work with the Invasive Species; studies, recommendations, policies, a coordinated program for all states involved, How this can be accomplished I don't know, something besides 'HapHazard' needs to happen though.

I know I'm dreaming.
 
I need to complete the stdofthesea quiz and get my yearly local LP sticker apparently. they cabled tied my bow eye to trailer last month after "forcing" me to wahweap from antelope valet ramp for decomp. that took an hour and a half from my return trip...oh well. it's for the lake longevity. it could be a Salton Sea soon.
 
Just FYI...

I went through Lot D boat inspection yesterday, Friday, about 2PM at Bullfrog...no one in line...

Very pleasant personable techs working...
The tech walked around the boat once, did not get in , asked a few questions:
how long in the water
did I have a live well
where will be the next body of water for the boat
could I lower the outboard...
and a new one on me, can I deploy my electric bow mount trolling motor and drain it??? lol

The tech was surprised that I lowered the kicker too, seemed surprised and confused by that, I don't think I would have had to.
I asked why deploying the electric motor... answer... to ensure I had drained it too , lol
I was not asked, but offered that the anchor was not deployed, the dock lines did not get wet and my net and life vests had been laid out on the deck to dry.
Both of my plugs were pulled, but I don't recall them checking
they were wowed that my livewell was dry and clean...they did climb up on the trailer to look in the livewell since it was open for them to see.

done in 10 minutes,
I did initiate a conversation regarding the decon process once they said I did not need it since my out of state boat and water bodies may not recognize Utah decon.
They said, as of last Monday both Bullfrog and Wahweap were no longer performing decons due to short on staff and resources, and were referring it to private sector providers if needed...
I thanked them and headed down the road...
 
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Dungee Fishing said:
Fished Jordanelle this morning, once again no one was there even on a Saturday during prime time until who knows when. We launched at 6am, about ten other boats had as well. I honestly can’t believe some places have made it this long...
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Without being contaminated? I think the whole state is going to be in trouble very soon myself. I agree.
 
Watching this thread made me revisit my post from spring of 2018. When will Utah look at what the surrounding states are doing and start charging a dedicated invasive fee to boaters. I now live in Idaho after 30+ years in Utah. Have no problem paying for trying to keep invasives out. Frustrating to see the cluster that Utah has made of the problem in Powell. A lot of excuses, new people, short handed, too hot ? but the bottom line is the surrounding states have so far kept the problem out by aggressive enforcement and fees! to police their waters. Sadly I am probably personally done with fishing Lake Powell as it is a joke trying to adhere to their ever changing decon rules and the hypocrisy of their attempts at interdiction I can't abide.
 
BarzArz said:
Just FYI...

I went through Lot D boat inspection yesterday, Friday, about 2PM at Bullfrog...no one in line...

Very pleasant personable techs working...
The tech walked around the boat once, did not get in , asked a few questions:
how long in the water
did I have a live well
where will be the next body of water for the boat
could I lower the outboard...
and a new one on me, can I deploy my electric bow mount trolling motor and drain it??? lol

The tech was surprised that I lowered the kicker too, seemed surprised and confused by that, I don't think I would have had to.
I asked why deploying the electric motor... answer... to ensure I had drained it too , lol
I was not asked, but offered that the anchor was not deployed, the dock lines did not get wet and my net and life vests had been laid out on the deck to dry.
Both of my plugs were pulled, but I don't recall them checking
they were wowed that my livewell was dry and clean...they did climb up on the trailer to look in the livewell since it was open for them to see.

done in 10 minutes,
I did initiate a conversation regarding the decon process once they said I did not need it since my out of state boat and water bodies may not recognize Utah decon.
They said, as of last Monday both Bullfrog and Wahweap were no longer performing decons due to short on staff and resources, and were referring it to private sector providers if needed...
I thanked them and headed down the road...
Click to expand...

I did much of the same before reaching the inspection area at Wahweap. Drained and dried my live well, pulled the plug and drained my lower unit Then wiped down the sides and undersides of the boat followed by the lower unit. I check it all first and ensure nothing will be found.
 
Watty33 said:
I did much of the same before reaching the inspection area at Wahweap. Drained and dried my live well, pulled the plug and drained my lower unit Then wiped down the sides and undersides of the boat followed by the lower unit. I check it all first and ensure nothing will be found.
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That’s the key that I learned as well.

In some ways it makes sense the way they are doing it. They ensure that people aren’t knowingly transporting mussels with an interview and inspection, they give you a certificate authorizing transportation, and then educate you that the formal decon is required and distributed across the State. They also give a friendly reminder to schedule it so you don’t get stuck waiting in line.

Also, the DNR guy I talked to was frustrated and said the department was changing stuff all the time and it was making his life really hard. Lots of irate boaters.
 
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