Watercraft Check Point!

[youroo]

As we were traveling along in Montana they had Check points for "Watercraft",they were checking ALL Watercraft! Canoes and Kayaks that were being hauled upside down or on their side were taken down and Inspected also! One man was draining his little Alum boat in a Bucket,I don't know where they took the contents. I wonder what they do to water from Inboard engines? Youroo!!

[richp]

Hi,

A number of states are concerned about the importation of invasive mussels, via watercraft that have been in infested streams and lakes. Inspection schemes are part of their response.

FWIW.

Ric Phillips

[Capt. Mike]

Before we sold our boat - and perhaps even as long as 10 years ago - zebra mussels began to be a problem. Lake of the Ozarks was pretty stringent. If you brought a boat in that had been in another lake or river, before you could launch it, you were supposed to have it inspected for zebra mussels. Even so, we were starting to see some showing up in our lake. Unfortunately, at that time, "inspection" was mostly voluntary and often non-existent.

They would get into your water intakes and could eventually stop up engines, air conditioners, etc. But they weren't confined to just power boats. they would attach themselves to the hulls of any boat and could be easily transported from one body of water to another.

[wana65stang]

I have never seen this inspection in Ontario (Canada) yet, but did see it in Manitoba and Alberta last year when we were traveling through, road side inspection of ALL!! watercraft.

[DDC]

I do remember the panic they caused when they were discovered in the great lakes, all the fear mongering about the damage they were going to cause, anyway it turned out that they are one of natures best filters and are actively cleaning the lakes.

[richp]

Hi,

For some years, I was a volunteer for our local park district here in Illinois, involved in quagga and zebra mussel detection and prevention. They are here, they are not going away for the foreseeable future, and they are undesirable and costly.

It is true they create a clear water environment. But in doing so -- consuming the small life forms at the bottom of the food chain -- they significantly and adversely impact the larger creatures, including game fish, further up the food chain.

They also reproduce prolifically, covering rocks, dock pilings, boat hulls and motor parts in the water, and anything on the shore -- including water intakes for power plants, locks, and other major structures that require costly cleaning. Google "Lake Mead quagga mussels" for some insight into what is going on in many lakes out west due to careless folks transporting them on their boats. That's what these inspections are trying to stop.

FWIW.

Rich Phillips