Utah Fights Invasive Species With Record Boat Inspections

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, in cooperation with the Utah Department of Natural Resources and several partnering agencies, spent the year working to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species such as quagga mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil. Their efforts included thousands of boat inspections and decontaminations aimed at keeping Utah’s waters clean and healthy.

So Far Lake Powell In The Only Effected Lake In Utah

Lake Powell remains the only Utah waterbody currently infested with quagga mussels, a species known for clogging pipes, damaging engines, and disrupting aquatic ecosystems. Since January, aquatic invasive species technicians from the DWR, Utah State Parks, Arizona Game and Fish Department, and the National Park Service, along with DNR officers, have inspected 288,554 boats and performed 6,509 decontaminations statewide. Of those, 51,337 inspections and 1,886 decontaminations occurred in the Lake Powell area.

While slightly fewer boats were inspected this year compared to 2024, the number of decontaminations increased. Utah’s five dip tanks—located at Lake Powell’s Stateline Ramp and Bullfrog Marinas, Utah Lake State Park, Sand Hollow State Park, and Willard Bay State Park—accounted for 3,365 decontaminations. The Utah Lake State Park dip tank, installed in May 2023, led the effort with 965.

“The dip tanks continue to be invaluable in improving efficiency for our decontaminations of complex boats,” said Utah Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Aquatic Invasive Species Statewide Operations Lt. Bruce Johnson in a press release. “These innovative resources have been instrumental in the fight against quagga mussels and other aquatic invasive species in Utah.”

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Officers detected several violations this year, including boaters failing to complete the mandatory education course, neglecting to pay vessel-enrollment fees, skipping inspection stations, or not removing drain plugs during transport. Johnson noted that most boaters have been cooperative, saying, “We really appreciate everyone’s efforts.”

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As boating season winds down, officials urge recreationists to plan ahead by meeting education, fee, and decal requirements before next year. Boaters should also observe seasonal dry times to prevent the spread of invasive species. Additional information is available at the “STD of the Sea” website.