CPW continues fight against aquatic nuisance species in Colorado’s lakes and reservoirs; provides ANS media kit
Joey Livingston
Adult zebra mussel from Highline Lake. Invasive mussels attached themselves to surfaces such as water pipes, causing billions of dollars in damage each year in the United States.
DENVER – The fight continues for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) as Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) staff work to keep invasive species from spreading in the state’s lakes and reservoirs.“As the challenge of protecting the state’s waters and infrastructure from aquatic nuisance species continues to grow, CPW continues to lead the charge against these destructive species,” said Robert Walters, CPW’s ANS program manager. “And as boating season approaches we ask for help from the boating community to combat invasive species in the state.”
Colorado’s ANS inspectors were busy in 2023 with staff conducting a total of 452,225 inspections and decontaminating 33,833 boats suspected of carrying mussels, other aquatic invasive species or standing water.
From 2019 to 2023, CPW found 634 boats fouled with invasive mussels, an average of 127 boats per year. Mussels are destructive to aquatic habitat, can seriously damage reservoir infrastructure and cause problems on boats.
Contaminated boats usually come into Colorado from neighboring states, especially Utah and Arizona because of our proximity to Lake Powell which has been mussel-infested for years. Other neighboring states with mussel infestations include Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and South Dakota. Most Midwestern and East Coast states also have infested waters.
About the ANS Program
The Colorado ANS Program was authorized by the Colorado Legislature in 2008 utilizing severance tax funds and in 2018 the Colorado General Assembly provided funding to the program through SB17-259, funding the program through boating registration fees from residents and non-residents.
Since CPW’s ANS inspection program started in 2008, 7 million boats have been inspected and 233,298 boats have been decontaminated. The agency is aided in the program by Colorado counties, municipalities, water districts, federal agencies and private companies that also conduct inspections. CPW also works proactively looking for aquatic nuisance species by sampling waters throughout the state. In 2023, CPW crews sampled 1178 standing waters and 52 flowing waters; these intense sampling efforts resulted in the early detection at Highline and emphasize the importance of this program.
CPW has also been instrumental in establishing the Water Inspection and Decontamination (WID) protocols which are now used by states throughout the nation. Agency staff are also active with the Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Committee.
Walters said that CPW will always remain vigilant in the fight against mussels.
“Mussels aren’t going away. However, by continuing our preventative watercraft inspection program Colorado can continue to set an example in the West and keep our waters clear of highly destructive invasive species.”
Roadside Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Stations (WIDs)
In 2021, Colorado Legislature passed House Bill 21-1226 which authorized Colorado Parks and Wildlife to implement a pilot roadside watercraft inspection and decontamination program. Year one of this pilot program was implemented in 2022 at the Loma Port of Entry. This effort was highly successful as 26 mussel fouled boats were intercepted over the course of three days. The pilot program was expanded in 2023.
This year alone, CPW invasive species inspectors have intercepted 11 boats with invasive species during mandatory inspections. The first interception for the year was at the Loma Port of Entry on March 21 on a boat traveling to Sterling from Lake Powell. Eight of the 11 boats intercepted had previously been in Lake Powell prior to arriving in Colorado, with others coming from Kansas, Minnesota and Texas.
As of May 9, CPW ANS staff have inspected 340 boats at the Loma Port of Entry, decontaminating 43. At the Trinidad Port of Entry, staff have inspected 112 boats and decontaminated 13.
Boaters are reminded that if they are traveling with a motorized or trailered watercraft on I-70 east from Utah (Loma Port Of Entry) or I-25 north from New Mexico (Trinidad Port Of Entry) they will be required to stop for an inspection Thurs. - Mon. through Oct. 31.
What can boaters do to help prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species?
Boat owners are reminded to “clean, drain and dry” boats after every use and utilize the green-seal program when entering and leaving a body of water. Boaters should also inspect their trailers and look in hard-to-reach spots on boats and engines for evidence of mussels. Anyone who has used a boat in waters outside of Colorado is obligated to tell boat inspectors. Boat owners can also call any state park or wildlife office if they have questions, concerns or would like information on scheduling an off-water inspection/decontamination.
All ballast boats, inboard and inboard/outboard engines must have a green seal in between launches or decontamination may take place prior to launching. Boaters are encouraged to inspect their own boat between every use and make sure it is clean, drained, and dry.
The State of Colorado requires boats to be professionally inspected if:
- a boat has been in any body of water that is positive, or suspect for ANS
- a boat has been in any body of water outside of Colorado
- a boat will be entering any water body where inspections are required
- a boat encounters an aquatic nuisance species check station
Boaters are required to stop for an inspection when both entering, and exiting most bodies of water in Colorado. Stricter inspection requirements exist when taking a vessel from one body of water to another. To encourage a speedy inspection process, boaters are encouraged to:
- Keep your green exit seal attached to your vessel and trailer. This seal tells inspectors what body of water the vessel was in last.
- Have your paper exit slip (blue or white) readily available. This slip tells inspectors details from your previous exit inspection that can speed up the process.
- Open/drain all compartment hatches like: live/bait wells, bilge areas, anchor compartments, equipment compartments and any other compartments that hold items that could have come into contact with water. Have the anchor and ropes out of their compartments for inspection.
- If you know the next body of water you are going to will require a decontamination procedure, request a decontamination during the exit inspection so you can get onto your next boating adventure more quickly.
Media Kit
The Google Drive Folder below contains several items that we hope will be helpful to you in preparing stories and educating the public about keeping harmful ANS invaders from spreading across Colorado. 2024 Aquatic Nuisance Species Media Kit The folder contains the following information:
- A variety of ANS photos and video including check stations, inspection and decontamination processes and invasive species
- 2023 ANS Fact Sheet
- ANS green seal program
- State of Colorado Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan
- Variety of public information materials provided to boaters
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.