Inspecting and Decontaminating your boat at Lake Powell
Prevent the spread of quagga mussels and other aquatic invasive species
After recreating on Lake Powell, ALL watercraft are required to receive an inspection before leaving the various Glen Canyon Recreational Area locations.
By decontaminating your boat, you help protect Utah’s and other western water bodies against quagga mussels and other aquatic invasive species (AIS). Here’s what to expect if you pull your boat out of Lake Powell.
Cost, complexity and calling ahead…
Cost — Decontaminations are free of charge for watercrafts without attached quagga mussels. During certain times of year there may be an extended period of wait time. Please be patient. Decontamination’s at Wahweap, Stateline and Antelope Point launch ramps can be scheduled ahead of time to reduce wait time. (See contact info at the bottom). If you choose to decontaminate elsewhere, check STDoftheSea.com for locations and call ahead to make a reservation. However, be advised that decontaminations offered at other water bodies may be available on a limited basis. *It is illegal to transport watercrafts with attached quagga mussels without prior authorization or professional decontamination. Watercrafts with mussels attached are not allowed to be decontaminated within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (GCNRA) and therefore are directed to a private company to have a decontamination where a fee will be applied. Again, authorization is required to move the watercraft from GCNRA to the offsite decontamination location. Note- Mussel encrusted boats leaving Hall’s Crossing may need to have the DWR or NPS perform an initial low pressure hot decontamination to reduce the biological risk before transport to a private company for complete decontamination. All mussel encrusted boats will be charged a fee to decontaminate. If mussels are found on or inside during launching inspection anywhere else in Utah, the watercraft will be decontaminated, then required to be quarantined for 30 days. The operator may be subject to additional fines. It is in every boater’s interest to, at minimum, receive an inspection before leaving Lake Powell.
Any watercraft hauled either by a local commercial hauler or stored locally is required to call and schedule an inspection before transporting the watercraft. These local communities are Ticaboo, Page, Greenehaven and Big Water. Any watercraft stored in these areas are required to receive a full inspection prior to leaving GCNRA.
Complexity — The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) can decontaminate watercraft up to the size of a cabin cruiser for those who do not have attached quagga mussels. Cabin cruisers with complex open water systems may be directed for private decontamination. All complex boats are required to meet a 30-day dry time before launching again in Utah if they do not receive a decontamination. This excludes PWC’s, jet boats and boats with outboard engines which are subject to seasonal dry times (see below).
Mandatory dry times within the State of Utah
All watercraft operators in Utah are required to remove ALL drain plugs and leave them out after recreating on any Quagga mussel infested water body. Currently Lake Powell is the only infested water body. If you do not have your boat professionally decontaminated, it will be inspected by an AIS technician or by you, the boater, if after working hours. This will ensure it is clean of AIS, drained to the highest extent possible and to begin the dry time. Seasonal dry times are ONLY subject to PWC’s, Jet boats with no ballast tanks and fishing or recreational boats with outboard engine(s).
Watercraft that are leaving Lake Powell but who intend to relaunch at Powell are able to do so without meeting the dry time. Dry times are only subject to watercraft looking to launch at any other Utah water body.
Live or Dead mussels found on or in your boat?
All boats with attached mussels on the outside or mussels (whole or partial) inside the boat will require decontamination before leaving followed by a 30 day dry time no matter the complexity of the boat. Watercraft may be transported to a residence or storage facility to complete the 30 day dry time after the initial decontamination. A Wildlife Resources Biologist or Conservation Officer will reassess the watercraft at the end of the quarantine. If the mussel encrustation is extensive, the watercraft may be subject to an additional decontamination before allowing to launch elsewhere, however no additional fees will be issued.
Calling ahead — For Bullfrog/Hall’s Crossing call DWR Biologist Evan Bulla at: 435-299-9562. AIS technicians at Bullfrog’s Lot D Inspection/Decontamination station or at the ramp at Hall's Crossing can also provide you with information ahead of time.
For Wahweap, Stateline or Antelope Point decontamination or to make a decontamination reservation, call DWR Biologist Clem Wasicek at: 435-592-9723(cell) or 928-645-2392(office). AIS technicians working on the ramps may also provide information to any questions you may have.
Visit STDoftheSea.com for statewide AIS information.
Prevent the spread of quagga mussels and other aquatic invasive species
After recreating on Lake Powell, ALL watercraft are required to receive an inspection before leaving the various Glen Canyon Recreational Area locations.
By decontaminating your boat, you help protect Utah’s and other western water bodies against quagga mussels and other aquatic invasive species (AIS). Here’s what to expect if you pull your boat out of Lake Powell.
- Inspection- All watercraft are required to be clean of any AIS material, mud and plants, drain of any infested lake water and begin the dry process to eliminate biological risk. It is mandatory to receive inspection when AIS technicians are working in the park before leaving. Failure to do so may result in citation(s).
- Decontamination- This is the process of flushing and removing AIS from infested bodies of water. Only state certified decontaminators are allowed to perform this professional decontamination service as there are specific time and temperatures requirements to ensure safe and proper decontamination to minimize the biological risk.
Cost, complexity and calling ahead…
Cost — Decontaminations are free of charge for watercrafts without attached quagga mussels. During certain times of year there may be an extended period of wait time. Please be patient. Decontamination’s at Wahweap, Stateline and Antelope Point launch ramps can be scheduled ahead of time to reduce wait time. (See contact info at the bottom). If you choose to decontaminate elsewhere, check STDoftheSea.com for locations and call ahead to make a reservation. However, be advised that decontaminations offered at other water bodies may be available on a limited basis. *It is illegal to transport watercrafts with attached quagga mussels without prior authorization or professional decontamination. Watercrafts with mussels attached are not allowed to be decontaminated within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (GCNRA) and therefore are directed to a private company to have a decontamination where a fee will be applied. Again, authorization is required to move the watercraft from GCNRA to the offsite decontamination location. Note- Mussel encrusted boats leaving Hall’s Crossing may need to have the DWR or NPS perform an initial low pressure hot decontamination to reduce the biological risk before transport to a private company for complete decontamination. All mussel encrusted boats will be charged a fee to decontaminate. If mussels are found on or inside during launching inspection anywhere else in Utah, the watercraft will be decontaminated, then required to be quarantined for 30 days. The operator may be subject to additional fines. It is in every boater’s interest to, at minimum, receive an inspection before leaving Lake Powell.
Any watercraft hauled either by a local commercial hauler or stored locally is required to call and schedule an inspection before transporting the watercraft. These local communities are Ticaboo, Page, Greenehaven and Big Water. Any watercraft stored in these areas are required to receive a full inspection prior to leaving GCNRA.
Complexity — The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) can decontaminate watercraft up to the size of a cabin cruiser for those who do not have attached quagga mussels. Cabin cruisers with complex open water systems may be directed for private decontamination. All complex boats are required to meet a 30-day dry time before launching again in Utah if they do not receive a decontamination. This excludes PWC’s, jet boats and boats with outboard engines which are subject to seasonal dry times (see below).
Mandatory dry times within the State of Utah
All watercraft operators in Utah are required to remove ALL drain plugs and leave them out after recreating on any Quagga mussel infested water body. Currently Lake Powell is the only infested water body. If you do not have your boat professionally decontaminated, it will be inspected by an AIS technician or by you, the boater, if after working hours. This will ensure it is clean of AIS, drained to the highest extent possible and to begin the dry time. Seasonal dry times are ONLY subject to PWC’s, Jet boats with no ballast tanks and fishing or recreational boats with outboard engine(s).
- Summer (June through August): 7 days
- Fall (September through November) and Spring (March through May): 18 days
- Winter (December through February): 30 days
- *Any boat with ANY of the following are required to complete 30 full days of dry time:
- one or more ballast tank
- inboard or inboard/outboard motor(s)
- other internal raw-water systems
Watercraft that are leaving Lake Powell but who intend to relaunch at Powell are able to do so without meeting the dry time. Dry times are only subject to watercraft looking to launch at any other Utah water body.
Live or Dead mussels found on or in your boat?
All boats with attached mussels on the outside or mussels (whole or partial) inside the boat will require decontamination before leaving followed by a 30 day dry time no matter the complexity of the boat. Watercraft may be transported to a residence or storage facility to complete the 30 day dry time after the initial decontamination. A Wildlife Resources Biologist or Conservation Officer will reassess the watercraft at the end of the quarantine. If the mussel encrustation is extensive, the watercraft may be subject to an additional decontamination before allowing to launch elsewhere, however no additional fees will be issued.
Calling ahead — For Bullfrog/Hall’s Crossing call DWR Biologist Evan Bulla at: 435-299-9562. AIS technicians at Bullfrog’s Lot D Inspection/Decontamination station or at the ramp at Hall's Crossing can also provide you with information ahead of time.
For Wahweap, Stateline or Antelope Point decontamination or to make a decontamination reservation, call DWR Biologist Clem Wasicek at: 435-592-9723(cell) or 928-645-2392(office). AIS technicians working on the ramps may also provide information to any questions you may have.
Visit STDoftheSea.com for statewide AIS information.
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