Boat Inspections

State-certified boat inspections help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in Colorado.

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Aquatic Nuisance Species

Protect Colorado Waters

Aquatic Nuisance Species are aquatic plants and animals that invade lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams. Many of these species are introduced by boats after being in infected waters.

Mandatory Boat Inspections

Colorado is a mandatory boat inspection state. All trailered and/or motorized watercraft are required before entering the water to be professionally inspected by state certified personnel if:

The boat has been in any water body that is positive or suspect for aquatic nuisance species.
The boat has been in any water body outside of Colorado.
The boat will be entering any water body where inspections are required.

Save Time and Get on the Water Fast

The Colorado Green Seal and Receipt Program

Boat inspection seals and seal receipts are your proof of prior inspection, providing information about the last water your boat was at and the type of inspection performed there to reduce your time waiting in inspection lines. Seals temporarily attach the boat to the trailer to let the inspector know the boat has not launched since its last inspection.

Get a Seal or Receipt

Green Seals

Green seals are used by all stations in Colorado. If you have a green seal, you must still stop at the inspection station to have the seal and receipt verified. Some inspection stations even have an express lane for green sealed boats. In order for the seal to be valid, it must have a fully filled out receipt with a matching serial number. You will quickly be granted access if you are returning to the same location or if your boat has been out of the water for more than 30 days. The inspector may give your boat a quick check to ensure it is clean and dry, if you are not returning to the same location or you have not been out of the water for more than 30 days. If the boat is not clean and dry, you will get re-inspected.

Where to Get a Green Seal

Seals are free to boaters and are available at the inspection station when you exit a lake or reservoir, by request at the CPW office located at 6060 Broadway in Denver, or one of the many marinas or marine dealers certified to do inspections.

White Paper Receipts

White paper receipts are given at negative waters with no aquatic nuisance species. If you have a valid seal with a white receipt, your next launch will be expedited and decontamination will not be required.

Blue Paper Receipts

Blue paper receipts are from a positive water in which an aquatic nuisance species has been detected. If you have a blue receipt and are entering a water that is negative for that particular Aquatic nuisance species, your boat will be quickly re-inspected to ensure it is clean, drained and dry. If it is not clean, drained and dry, it will be decontaminated.

Get Your Boat Inspected

There are 72 professional Statewide Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination sites in Colorado. Find one near you.

Find an Inspection Site

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Boating

Faster Boat Inspections

What can you do to help make the entrance and exit inspection go faster at the ramp?

Schedule inspections and decontaminations on a weekday. If you are likely to need a decontamination, getting pre-inspected and decontaminated on a weekday may be more convenient.

Before Inspection

Have a green seal and matching receipt ready to present to the inspector.
Make sure the bilge plug is removed and available to be replaced at the end of the inspection.
Remove any tarps and straps.
Have the anchor and ropes out of their compartments.
If using live aquatic bait, please have the bait receipt out and available for the inspector.

At the Inspection Site

Turn off the vehicle, set the parking brake, get out of the vehicle and assist the inspector with the inspection.
Have the battery switch turned on so that the engine can be lowered and pumps can be activated.
Open all compartment hatch including but not limited to: live/bait wells, bilge areas, anchor compartments, equipment compartments and any other compartments that hold items that have come into contact with the water body.

When Exiting the Lake or Reservoir

Place unused bait in the trash.
Open and drain all compartments including but not limited to: live/bait wells, bilge areas, anchor compartments, equipment compartments and any other compartments that hold items that have come into contact with the water body.
Activate all pumps (bilge, live well, ballast tank, etc.) to ensure drainage.
Lower the motor.
Remember to dry all equipment at home prior to the next launch.

Boat Inspections

Boats with Ballast Tanks

Some wakeboard boats, ski boats and sailboats have ballast tanks, which are filled with water to stabilize the boat and allow them to ride lower in the water. Many ballast tanks can’t be checked visually, and many cannot be fully drained. Even after these tanks have been pumped out, they can contain up to two gallons of water.

Decontamination

If the inspector finds water in a ballast tank or can’t verify how much water remains in the tanks, the tanks may require decontamination. Boats with more than two ballast tanks will require decontamination. The only way we can currently decontaminate enclosed ballast tanks is to flush them out with very hot water that will kill any mussels present.

Wakeboard Boats

Wakeboard boats are particularly technical, difficult and time consuming to decontaminate. Some wakeboard boats may have ballast tank pumps that are only rated for 130 degrees Fahrenheit water. The standard for killing zebra mussels is 140 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hotter than these pumps can tolerate. Boats with these lower-temperature rated pumps will be difficult to decontaminate, and decontaminations may need to be performed by a certified dealer.

If any aquatic nuisance species is found on a boat during inspection, the inspection staff cannot permit the boat to leave and will perform the decontamination onsite.

If no aquatic nuisance species is found, there are two options available:

Have the inspection staff decontaminate the boat for you.
Take your boat to a marine dealer that is certified in ANS inspections. After the boat is decontaminated, they can apply a green seal between the boat and trailer to document that it was decontaminated properly.

The following locations are certified, have green seals and can handle wakeboard or other technical boats:

Marine Dealers

Dealer	Address	Phone Number
Best Marine Service	12098 W. 50th Place, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033	303-423-3311
Nelson Motor Sports	5800 N. Federal Denver, CO 80221	303-468-1369
Rocky Mountain Boat Co.	290 S. McCulloch Blvd. Pueblo West, CO 81007	719-547-3100
Tommy's Slalom Shop	3740 N. Sheridan Blvd. Denver, CO 80231	303-455-3091