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Boat Trailering and Invasive Species
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BrentB



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PostPosted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Before traveling check each state DNR web site you will be visiting for regulations
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colbysmith



Joined: 02 Oct 2011
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I recently came back from a round trip from Madison Wisconsin area to the San Juan Islands. Towed the boat out I94, then came back I90, via Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore & Badlands national parks. I'll upload the following correspondence I had in regards to what I considered an overbearing inspection by Wyoming. Apparently Wyoming does not want Wisconsin boaters in their state! Read and enjoy. P.s. BTW, to my knowledge, none of the inspectors really spent much if any time inspecting my trailer.... Colby

Thanks for your reply. I did also mail a copy of my email to the main office, due to the "automated reply" msg from my email. Yes, I am very aware of the issue with invasive species. Wisconsin does a lot of public education in regards to that. None the less, I do not feel the kind of inspection given was warranted. Apparently Montana and Idaho did not feel it necessary either. I will share your reply with my fellow boaters.
Sincerely,
Colby Smith

On 7/15/2014 2:55 PM, Beth Bear wrote:
> Mr. Smith,
>
> Thank you for contacting me regarding the inspection of your watercraft
> at the Wapiti check station just west of Cody, WY. While I regret that
> you were dissatisfied with the inspection process, it is necessary to
> keeping Wyoming's waters free from harmful aquatic invasive species.
> Being from Wisconsin I am sure you can appreciate the devastating
> impacts of zebra/quagga mussel and are desire to keep them out of Wyoming.
>
> In reading your account of the inspection I would agree it sounds like
> our inspector did what we call a high risk inspection. I am assuming
> this was conducted because the boat had recently been used in a
> Wisconsin water. Because of the high number of mussel infested waters in
> Wisconsin, we conduct a high risk inspection on any watercraft recently
> used in Wisconsin waters.
>
> I agree that perhaps a high risk inspection was not warranted as your
> boat was last in Washington waters. However we do give inspectors
> leeway to err on the side of caution with any boat if they feel a high
> risk inspection is warranted. I am not sure why the inspector indicated
> it was a standard inspection and actually conducted what we'd consider a
> high risk inspection but we will make sure he is clear on the difference
> for the future.
>
> Again I apologize for any inconvenience this inspection caused and thank
> you for contacting me.
>
> Thanks!
> ~ Beth
> --
> Beth Bear
> Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator
> Wyoming Game & Fish Department
> 528 S. Adams, Laramie, WY 82070
> 307-745-5180 Ext. 256 <tel:307-745-5180%20Ext.%20256>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: *Colby Smith* <mcs2442@gmail.com <mailto:mcs2442@gmail.com>>
> Date: Mon, Jul 14, 2014 at 8:21 AM
> Subject: Complaint
> To: wgfdwebmaster@wyo.gov <mailto:wgfdwebmaster@wyo.gov>
>
>
> Please pass this to the appropriate manager.
>
> I am writing in regards to a State of Wyoming Invasive Species
> watercraft inspection I received while traveling eastbound between the
> East entrance of Yellowstone National Park, and Cody. This inspection
> was on 6/29/2014 at approximately noon. The inspectors ID listed on my
> report is 744. While the inspector was polite and respectful, I feel
> his inspection was unreasonable going beyond what what was required,
> both slowing the inspection, and leaving me with a very bad taste for
> your fine state. I had trailered my boat from home here in Stoughton,
> Wisconsin, to the San Juan Islands of Washington via I94, but was
> returning via I90 and the National Parks. Prior to my departure on June
> 11th, I had used the boat in my home area waters. It had been washed and
> dry prior to leaving on my trip. It was launched at Anacortes Washington
> on June 17th, and then retrieved on June 24th. It was not launched
> again until I returned home. I had gone through several other
> watercraft inspections in Montana and Idaho on the way out, all much
> quicker and reasonable. I shared all this information with the
> inspector, who more than once stated I was fortunate I was returning
> from salt water or he would have to do a high risk inspection. His
> inspection took 25 minutes, while he used a small mirror to look into my
> outboard water intakes, trim tab hinges, anchor locker drain hole, etc.
> He also looked into my bilge and other areas. Other than road grime
> on the boat, it had a clean hull and one should have been able to easily
> see that no invasive species were attached. I also had mentioned that I
> had pressure washed my boat at my brothers in Washington after pulling
> it from the Sound. The only other water my boat had seen was from rain
> and road drainage. I was respectful and polite to the inspector, and
> only followed him around to answer any questions he had and to monitor
> his actions. He also continued to talk to me about the program and we
> discussed the boat and my travels. I did not discuss my dissatisfaction
> with him regarding the inspection, as didn't feel that would be the
> appropriate time. I did thank him for being more thorough than the
> other inspections. While the seal receipt shows this as a standard
> inspection, I don't know what else would be inspected in a "High Risk
> Inspection". I also note that the inspector did not have any form of
> wash station with or near him, and he did say if I would need to be
> decontaminated I would be directed to a Fish and Game office. I was
> stopped at one more Wyoming inspection station as I entered I90, but the
> inspector there looked at my receipt, checked the seal and let me go.
> I have already shared much of this information with other boat owners
> at www.c-brats.com <http://www.c-brats.com>. I would be happy to
> provide any additional details you can provide to my fellow boaters at
> this group to help them know about your state policies in regards to
> invasive species inspections.
> Thank you for your time.
> Respectfully,
> Colby Smith
> Stoughton, Wisconsin
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rogerbum



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PostPosted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 5:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sounds to me like he did a thorough inspection based on the fact that your boat is registered in Wisconsin. It seems entirely reasonable to me. 25 mins is a relatively long time, but if I were an inspector, I wouldn't necessarily take what the boat owner told me at face value. I'd listen politely and do the inspection as I had planned. Seems like the only issue is that he marked a "high risk" inspection as "standard" inspection. Personally, I don't see the reason for you being upset.
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thataway



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PostPosted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 6:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What "seal" was applied--and were you given any instructions about launching the boat in Wyoming waters? We drove those same areas summer before last and did not see a single boat inspection station in Wy. We spent a delightful week in Cody.

Thanks for the information--if we get up this way, I wonder what they might think of a 10 foot inflatable, which was stowed in the under compartment of the RV?

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Will-C



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PostPosted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 7:40 pm    Post subject: Boat Trailering and Invasive Species Reply with quote

Flush out raw water wash down systems when leaving affected areas or lakes.
D.D. Mr. Green

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colbysmith



Joined: 02 Oct 2011
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 10:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Roger, I disagree. I believe the prior inspections I received in Montana and Idaho were more appropriate. The inspector continued to insinuate that I might have to be directed to a Fish & Game office for a more complete inspection and to be decontaminated. .. This was on a Sunday. You know of many government offices open on a weekend? His demeanor from the beginning indicated he was kind of excited to have a Wisconsin boat at his lone check station in pretty much the middle of nowhere. Barney Fife kind of comes to mind. Pure and simple, this inspector was just a little overzealous. I didn't really have a problem with his tiny mirror and looking in the intakes, drain holes and trim tabs. What I had a problem with is that it seemed he wasn't going to be satisfied until he found something....
Bob, here is the link to the Wyoming F&G website, one of the Invasive Species Pages, but you can click around to learn more.
http://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/fishing-1000218.aspx
The seal was just a wire and plastic "snap" that was attached between the boat and trailer, that had to be cut off before it could be launched. After going thru his inspection, I inquired if he could give me a report or something showing I had been inspected...I didn't want to do this again and wasn't going to be launching the boat until I got home. None of the other inspections gave me any kind of report, something if I were to travel again, I'd demand. So that took him another 5 minutes to fill out the paperwork and attach the seal.
D.D. I routinely wash my boat, using a pressure washer and soap. (Also flush the motor).
Colby
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Foggy



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PostPosted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 7:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

While I sat in a public stall, in the 'thinking' position, a thought occurred to me on
this subject. I wonder if all this chest pounding and jestering about having a clean
(boat) bottom is a prelude for the bureaucrats to require Certificates of Inspection,
at nominal expense of course? These would have to be obtained as your vessel is
hauled anywhere before going anyplace.

As always, the clamps are put to the little guy while the big boys (commercial)
continue to seed our lakes and waterways with invasive species from foreign ports
as has been happening for decades.

Aye?

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Sea Wolf



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PostPosted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 11:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Foggy wrote:
While I sat in a public stall, in the 'thinking' position, a thought occurred to me on
this subject. I wonder if all this chest pounding and jestering about having a clean
(boat) bottom is a prelude for the bureaucrats to require Certificates of Inspection,
at nominal expense of course? These would have to be obtained as your vessel is
hauled anywhere before going anyplace.

As always, the clamps are put to the little guy while the big boys (commercial)
continue to seed our lakes and waterways with invasive species from foreign ports
as has been happening for decades.

Aye?


Absolutely probable as suggested in the first paragraph, and definitely true as stated in the second.

Wouldn't it be a great, wonderful, and logical world if we could make the commercial perpetrators of these messes pay for their clean up and eradication (were that even possible)?

Joe. Teeth Thumbs Up

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colobear



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PostPosted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 11:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Staying completely out of the reason for this thread, Zebra and Quagga mussels are serious business. You only have to look at how they spread, the virtual impossibility of getting rid of them once in place, and their economic impact ($9+ billion in just 1995-1999) in places where they are found. They were first found in North America in 1986 at two Lake Erie locations, coming in the ballast water of foreign vessels. Now they are found in most states and are about impossible to eradicate once they are there. They are quite small as adults, usually smaller than your thumbnail, but spread as a very tiny organism small enough to be in cooling lines, small crevices, even in the twists of three strand. For us salt water boaters they are not so much of an issue as they live in fresh water but...they can live out of the water for more than a week and so can be transported from place to place even over a long road trip. We have been inspected three times when traveling to out of state freshwater locations and in each case the inspection was easy because we are a salt water boat and the critters will die in salt water. States and the feds are serious about them.
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Sunbeam



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PostPosted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 11:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

thataway wrote:
What "seal" was applied--and were you given any instructions about launching the boat in Wyoming waters?


I had my boat inspected, and a "seal" applied in Wyoming in June of 2012 when I drove through towing my C-Dory. It was a white plastic tag with a flat plastic section of about 2" square, and then round "beads" on the long part so that it would go on but not come off without cutting (sort of like an electrical zip tie). They put it through the bow towing eye, plus something else that was part of the trailer (maybe the winch strap hook). This so you would have to cut it off upon launching. I don't remember any instructions about launching in Wyoming, but then I had already mentioned that I was just passing through, with no intention to boat in Wyoming at that time.
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Two Bears



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PostPosted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 12:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In my former life as a "bureaucrat" I was given the "honor" to put together a program to deal with invasive weeds on a National Forest= Think "Weed-Free Hay." You start out with the objective of stopping the entry of the little seeds hidden in a bale of hay, which is darn hard to do. Then you assemble a team of somewhat enthusiastic enforcers (would you want those who don't care?). After spending a lot of time, energy and money you find some inspectors have gone wild, others lax, and the commercial folks are complaining the recreationists are getting a free ride and the "free" recreation folks are complaining about the commercial people hogging all the sites and getting away free. Some complain they never saw and inspector so why bother, and other complain about over-zealous enforcement.

Regarding our boats, after several encounters with Idaho, Washington, California, Lake Powell, and other state inspectors I think we have a pretty balanced program. You will find "wing-nuts" in any program. It takes letters about the problems for the mangers to know about and deal with the problems. I think we are on track.

Chuck

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colbysmith



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PostPosted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 12:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

They must have changed seals a bit. Mine was just a stranded wire, with a black plastic "clip" like device that was pinched together. But placed in the same location. I was not given any information either, but also stated I was just passing through. As for the comments on the zebra mussels, that's also kind of my point. I doubt the last few states will stop them without completely disallowing boats that have cruised in other waters. And even then there are probably a lot of other naturistic ways for the species to travel. It seems kind of pointless to me all the money the government spends trying to stop various bugs, insects and species from spreading, rather than just learning to live with them. At the very least, governments have the technology to not waste time on boaters not entering their waters! Colby
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colbysmith



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PostPosted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 12:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Chuck, did it work? (Keeping the bad seeds out of the hay? Laughing
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Two Bears



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PostPosted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 11:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Chuck, did it work? (Keeping the bad seeds out of the hay?

One of the side benefits of these kind of programs is public awareness that there is a problem. I think that "awareness" is doing more than the inspectors in this case. I sure look my boat over more carefully than I would if "no one cared". In the case of hay it made hay growers learn they could make more money growing "certified" weed free hay than weeded hay. Suddenly everyone was in love with weed free hay and the horse men became their own enforcers.

However you don't want to look at that kind of thing too much. Sort of like food labeled organic - it sounds good, just don't look too close or ask what Organic means.

Chuck
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colbysmith



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PostPosted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 12:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kind of like airport security.... Rolling Eyes
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