Interstate Towing

Az and NM are not currently apparently inspecting on I 10 (just went over it about 10 days ago)

In the past Calif. just did a visual, but in my case did not look in the bilge...

You are subject to what any officer or waterway management personal wants to do. If they say, "steam clean"--then you do it.

Here is Calif information, sites of inspection and lake practices.
 
At the inspection site, do they give you a certificate, stamp or seal thon the tow strap? Or any other way of indicating you have been inspected?

Interesting following through to a launch in WA state. I guess that sometimes the government agencies o communicate.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
At Lake George, NY the AIS (aquatic invasive species) decontamination process involves washing/flushing with 140 deg water. I assume this is deg F, but they don't say exactly.
 
Lake Michigan is rich in Zebra and Quagga mussels. Ironically this adds to our
clean, clear, unsalted water quality (north more than south portions). Curiously,
trailering our 26 Venture to multiple places* since 2014, we have had no
requirement to stop for inspection before launching. Not a sign, warning, nada.

Seems only western state bureaucrats have a bunch in their pants about this.
Lake George, NY an exception? Maybe inspections don't work or are not needed.
Thus, no reason for hysteria.

Aye.

* Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, W Virginia, Virginia, Maryland,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi,
Alabama, Florida and Ontario, Canada.
 
Watersport users across Oregon and Washington "have a bunch in their pants" about boaters who do not properly clean their vessels of larvae and adults of these invasive species. I expect that swimmers, water skiers, and other responsible boaters innthis part of the country would be happy to assist with inspections at the borders.

Foggy, the menace of these critters is a recognized problem by everybody who cares about the pristine character of waters out here.
 
I don't make light of the problem of invasive species. I have a problem with
ineffective and poorly thought out methods of dealing with the problem.
Then, and mostly, I have a problem with the bureaucrats dumping their version
of 'controlling' the problem on the public (read you and me) when we bear no
responsibility for it in the first place.

It's just another example of 'too little, too late' concerning correction.

Read some about waste, ineffective and expensive unused measures to control
asian carp knocking on our door, aquatically speaking, here in the Great Lakes.
If you are serious about our "pristine water", this could make you sick.

Maybe you missed another recent post about some of our own C-Brats not having
a problem with dumping their sewage overboard hardly contributing to pristine
water and this is of our own making, not the bureaucrats.

Aye.
Grandma used to say, "We have seen the enemy. It is us."
 
Since the NW seems to be a problem for some boaters, there is always the option of boating in other locations.
 
If you are coming north to Canada, Alberta and British Columbia are now doing mandatory inspections of all water craft and if you pass the inspection stations without stopping, you could be subject to big fines. We were stopped to inspect our sea kayaks last summer, but had no problems as they were clean. We had just come from Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park and were on our way to Desolation Sound. Most of our water bodies in western Canada are still very clean, so we are trying to keep them that way. Thanks for helping with this.
 
Harvey, the "anal guy" in Cody Wyoming ,2 years ago did put a "seal" on the boat and gave us a "certificate" so that would help us going thru the remaining states (that did not have inspections...). Interesting that we did not need an inspection before camping out in Yellowstone, (we were coming from Seattle where we had used the boat in the San Juans. We did not launch in Yellowstone, just interesting that the state was more concerned with our boat on the way out, than on the way in...) The following year, after pulling out of Lake Powell, I asked the college kids there inspecting the boat, if they'd please "seal" it, but again did not go thru any more inspections on the way home. I believe my biggest concern will be some rules Arizona has with how many days I can be on individual lakes before needing several days drying before I can launch in another one of their lakes. (This is a problem as I am tentatively planning on putting in on 4 different lakes, but not really spending more than a day or two on any of them.) And going across the border from Arizona to California after also possibly launching in Lake Havasu. Coming back home I will be passing thru the bottom part of Wyoming, and not too excited remembering my time with the Cody guy.

I understand the concern for invasive species. But it's getting to a point of being a real hassle to transport a boat across state lines or launching into various lakes without long periods of storage time in between. The inspections sort of remind me of doing the security dance thru various airports before retirement as an airline pilot. Lots of cosmetics involved, but really not addressing the problem in an efficient way. Colby
 
The last time we pulled out at Lake Powell, the inspection group did attach a "seal" between the bow tow eye and the tow strap hook. I also got a piece of paper, saying the boat had been in infested waters, and that all water had been drained out of the bilge and the engine.

My understanding is that the Zebra and Quagga mussels were introduced into the Eastern Great Lakes/river systems via Ballast water into Lake St. Clair in 1986. They are native to the Black, Caspian, and Azov Seas, and thus came in ships which had picked up the water in those areas.

Because of the damage done, especially to intakes, boats, water sources, plus huge ecological damage, the states which do not (did not) have them, are trying to keep them from spreading. Nothing to do with getting "a bunch in their pants", or ineffective measures. The problem comes from ignorant boaters who do not properly drain or clean their vessels and thus spread the infestation. The problem is not East Vs West, or various forms of enforcement attempts. The waters of Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, seem to be free of these so far...

Foggy do you really believe that
"Lake Michigan is rich in Zebra and Quagga mussels. Ironically this adds to our
clean, clear, unsalted water quality (north more than south portions). "
Click to expand...
?

The reason that the Eastern States are not inspecting, is that they are all connected via waterways, and frequent boaters who travels back and forth.

Since some posters do not understand the nature and extent of the problem, I suggest that you view these two videos, the first shows the progression of the species
second shows the effects--perhaps a bit dramatized..
 
Well, actually they have done a great job filtering the water to a better clarity...

But back to how it effects some that want to use more than one lake without waiting a month in between.... As Dr. Bob indicated, so many of the waterways are connected in the East, so rather hard to isolate them from each other. Sounds like there are a few lakes out west already seeing the mussels. So if someone is traveling and desires to launch their boat on a different lake for a day or two, with only a day or two in between, it looks like that may not be possible. Not if somewhere between 3-30 days is required for drying.

I'm planning on joining the C-Brat Delta cruise this coming April, but I'd also like to stop along the way in Arizona to enjoy boating on some of their lakes. This would create a real hassle if I find out after pulling off of Lake Havasu, that my boat has to dry 3 or more days before launching in the Delta, when I'm looking at launching only a day or two later. In the end, I may have to accept that I'm not going to be able to enjoy any other lakes out there with my boat, unless I spend a lot more time in the area... :x
 
thataway":3kmq2i5r said:
Foggy do you really believe that
"Lake Michigan is rich in Zebra and Quagga mussels. Ironically this adds to our clean, clear, unsalted water quality (north more than south portions). "
Click to expand...
?
Click to expand...

The answer is yes. Only change is to clarify these mollusks have had nothing to
do with our water being unsalted. It was that way before they were brought here.
To be sure, their presence has cleared and cleaned up the water easily noticeable
in northern waters; less so in the south due to population, industry, etc. This is
the only positive finding about them.

Oh, maybe 'rich' wasn't the best word to imply highly infested.

Aye.
 
In 2015 I boated the Mississippi River and several other infested rivers. We then trailered home arriving in early November. I did some calling about how to dis-infect" my boat as I really did not want to infect my local waters. Mixed answers. Idaho has had inspection stations for several years. My local boat mechanic ran some chemical thru my motor, but no one was "sure" that worked. I kept the boat out of the water for the winter until I headed to Bellingham, WA to launch for the Friday Harbor Gathering in May '16.

This past fall I headed to Lake Powell and launched at Bullfrog. As I arrived at the launch ramp a Park Service officer met me and recorded name, address, boat info and explained the lake had zebra and that when I pulled out I needed to go thru a procedure. He also said that the information I was there would be shared with Idaho. Pulling out Oct 1st, I followed the procedure, get boat on trailer, park on steep ramp out of water, lower motor so it drains, pull plug & drain boat. Then up to big parking lot where they "dis-infect". As I pulled into the inspection area a guy with a clip board looked at my Idaho license plate and told me to head on home and I would be inspected as I entered Idaho. As my plan was to enter Idaho late in the PM and the inspection station would be closed so I asked them to "dis-infect" me. They sent me to a station run by the Utah Ag Dept. It has a big water heater who sprayed hot water on my boat, up the bilge until the bilge pump kicked on, and called it good. They then filled out two forms, sealed the boat at the trailer winch and sent me on my way.

When I entered Idaho the next day on I-84 at 9 pm the "boat inspection station" was closed. It is located at a weight station so I went into the weight station. Only one person on shift with 18 wheedlers were going by at a rate of about one every 45 seconds. I explained what I wanted and she groaned. I showed her my paperwork from Utah and she cheered up: "Now I don't have to go and look for something I have no clue what it looks like, especially in the dark". Sent me on my way with no more paperwork or even getting my name.
When I got home I began to wonder if I would get a call when the Park Service paperwork hit Idaho. Nothing by mid November, so I called Idaho Ag people. Explained where I had been and asked if they were looking for me: "oh yes" and I was transferred to someone who transferred me to someone else who told me to call a person near me in North Idaho. Called there and he asked when it had come out of the water. I told him Oct 1 and he said you are clear. Drying is the best way, but amount of time needed is questionable. Perhaps as little as 3 days in dry weather and perhaps more than 30 days in wet weather.
The phase that come to my mind is "much ado about nothing." In short, the agencies have not a plan that crosses state lines very well, if at all. It's back to us as boaters, which does not give me a lot of confidence on keeping our local waterway clear.

Chuck
 
Although "Clear filtered water" is one side effect of the invasive species, the other effects are harmful (not that water which has been filtered to the point that nutrients which are beneficial in the ecosystem have been removed isn't harmful, because it is.) I wonder how much clearer the water in Lake Michigan is? At what expense to the native species, and the balance of nature in the lakes? All evidence points to the fact that the Zebra and Quagga mussels have the capability of doing millions of dollars of economic damage to not only the infrastructure, but of native species in bodies of water where they become established. This is the message which needs to be passed on to all boaters--and a reason to be responsible--as all of the C brats are.

But I have to ask--do those who boat in Lake Michigan or other infested areas take precautions to prevent the spread of mussels by their boats, as they go to bodies of water in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, W Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Ontario, Canada?

If so what are these precautions? Since some feel that "official solutions" are not effective, what are? Many of these states do not yet have recorded infestations.
 
I boat in Lake Michigan, and afterwards drain the bilge, flush the engine and wash the boat. Also pull any of the water plants off the trailer! It's usually a few days before I launch then in a local lake. As you are aware Bob, there are so many areas that water can sit in our boats, that there really is no effective/efficient way to get every ounce out, other than letting it sit for sometime in a hot place. Most all our lakes around here have invasive species now. In fact, many lakes out west do also. The fact is, as long as we have trailerable boats, bar finding a way to completely sterilize them, there will always be a chance of invasive species hitching a ride. Going beyond the boat, how many flush their trailers? I'm not talking about just hosing them off, but flushing the inside of the frame. Every time you back the trailer in the water, the hollow frame, older style incandescent lights, etc, fill with water. Some of that water will stay in the trailer, until it's dunked in the next lake. Colby
 
thataway":3ao6c6no said:
I wonder how much clearer the water in Lake Michigan is?
Click to expand...
Noticeably clearer. From National Wildlife Federation www.nwf.org
"The 10 trillion quagga and zebra mussels blanketing the bottom of the Great
Lakes filter water as they eat plankton and have succeeded in doubling water
clarity during the past decade.''

thataway":3ao6c6no said:
be responsible--as all of the C brats are.
Click to expand...
You gotta be kidding...

thataway":3ao6c6no said:
do those who boat in Lake Michigan or other infested areas take precautions to prevent the spread of mussels by their boats, as they go to bodies of water in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, W Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Ontario, Canada?
Click to expand...
It doesn't matter since no one seems to be checking in the places I've launched and
there is no proven method of stopping the spread anyway (see below).

thataway":3ao6c6no said:
If so what are these precautions? Since some feel that "official solutions" are not effective, what are?
Click to expand...
Extensive research has been underway for some time by multiple local and national organizations.
To get an idea, check this out:
https://www.google.com/searchclient=saf ... 8&oe=UTF-8
You'll see NOAA, EPA, Great Lakes Science Center, U of Michigan and many many others.
Bottom line is there is no effective control measure for invasive species to date.
Everything tried is useless. Nasty problem brought on by foreign boats.
Enjoy our Great Lakes while you can.

Aye.
Grandma used to say, "Everything is temporary."
Grandpa used to say, "The Rule of the Universe is extinction, not survival."
 
Colby,
Your comments about the trailer frame are valid--all the more reason to have an aluminum trailer, which mostly has "I" beams, which are easily cleaned.

The mussel larva will only be in water which have been in contact with the lake, and where the water can then transmit new larva to the next body of water. It is not all that difficult to use a sponge to get all of the water out of the bilge--if you boat does not have leaks such as the brass trim strip forward. Drying for several days, usually gets all of the moisture out in low humidity environments. We also run our engine on the muffs before putting into our Florida waters after having been in contaminated waters.

Foggy,

No, I do expect that most of the C Brats are responsible boaters. I have met and know many well. They are people who treat the environment and the boating community with great respect. Two Bears and Colby are genuinely concerned about preventing the spread of the mussels. It is because of only one irresponsible boater that the muscle infestation started in Lake Mead in 2007, and now has spread down stream into the intakes of the Calif. and AZ water intake systems,

In this case, "Water Clarity" does not necessarily mean "good", when it disrupts the ecosystem to the extent it does and causes many billions of dollars a year in disruption to water systems. Sorry, I don't agree with fatalism. There are states where it has not spread, including several in the SE. Hopefully we can keep it that way...!!
 
Think you (read 'the big you'; society) can find and stop all the "rotten apples"
that spoil it for everyone else?

Didn't say invasive species did anything good except that bivalves clarify water.
That may not seem good to those who live on and are used to murky water.

Science has not stopped the spread of invasive species into our beloved waters,
clear or otherwise. Just a fact; being real. Given this, will hoping do more?

Aye.
Grandma used to say, "You cannot worry enough to change anything."
 
I have boated in the Great Lakes and the Chesapeake, plus numerous rivers and inland lakes. The only place where I have seen or heard anything about invasive species control is Lake George, NY and Lake Mead, NV.

In Lake George they seem to be the most proactive about it. Requiring inspections and disinfection. I have never been there, but was considering it once and checked into it a bit.

At Lake Mead, NV there are signs warning about invasive species, giving suggested preventative steps (dry your boat) and threatening confiscation and fines if you don't comply. There is a disinfection facility near Las Vegas Boat Harbor, but I have never seen it open (I don't live there, but visit several times a year).

Everywhere else I have taken my boat, there has been no mention of any of this.
 
Zebra and Quagga mussels have few, if any, natural opponents or predators.
FYI - Another invasive species, you can literally sink your teeth into, is at our
nautical doorstep. Asian carp, 4 or 5 different species.

Read about this menace here:

www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/ ... /95792890/

These big bad boys threaten our waters and people on the water.

Fishermen, here is your ultimate challenge and no closed season.

Aye.
 
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