Wyoming Mussel Certification

jkidd

jkidd

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Just a heads up for those planing trip to Wyoming waters this summer. Maybe Jay can give us some info about Yellowstone and Flaming Gorge.
Yellowstone doesn't require a Wyoming fishing license and Flaming Gorge crosses state lines. Utah doesn't require a sticker yet, so if you live in Utah can you boat the whole lake without a sticker. One boat two Kayaks and it's going to cost you $60 to boat there. I wonder if it will affect tourism. Seems like it could have been collected at the ramps and day use fees. What will your boat look like with 50 state stickers on it and will each state require their own special place for it to be stuck.

Here is a bit of info and a link

http://gf.state.wy.us/fish/AIS/

Based on direction from the Wyoming legislature, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission has implemented emergency regulations to address the aquatic invasive species threat. Under this regulation, all watercraft using Wyoming waters are required to display an Aquatic Invasive Species decal. Costs for the decal under the emergency regulations are $10 for motorized watercraft registered in Wyoming, $30 for motorized watercraft registered in other states, $5 for non-motorized watercraft owned by Wyoming residents and $15 for non-motorized watercraft owned by non-residents. Inflatables 10 feet or less in length are exempt. Decals go on sale on the WGFD website April 15 and at license agents May 17.
 
Jody

The only thing I know on Flaming Gorge is if from Wyoming your not going to launch there without the WY Mussel sticker. When I found out about this several weeks ago I bought the stickers through Wyo fish & game site you showed as a link. No answers to your Yellowstone or Flaming Gorge question there or in brochure from them that came with my Wyo mussel stickers. There was a phone number for questions on this brochure. The number is 877-943-3247. I couldn't even find any information about on location sites where the stickers could be bought.

This is an emergency push by the state legislature think either Wyoming State Government is truly scared over the problems these mussels could cause or they've hit on a great revenue enhancement scheme or combination of both. Think there could be some very upset people especially from out of state who show up to boat here and find they can't launch without sticker and no place nearby to buy.

Jay
 
Jay

I was talking to my postman after I posted this and he had called the number and talked to them about Flaming Gorge and they told him if someone launches in Utah and crosses the border into Wyoming they better have the sticker or they will get a ticket. now I just need to find out about Yellowstone. Idaho also requires a sticker. do you think we can put the stickers on the bottom of the boat?
 
Thanks for the heads up and keep us posted about Jackson Lake and Yellowstone Lake - looks like we need a decal, even if not in infected water, and probably easier to get on line - is that what you Wyoming folks think?
 
If required at Jackson and Yellowstone I would think on line the easiest way to do it.

Jody---on the brochure that comes with the stickers they're really sticky about where the want those stickers stuck!!!
 
Maybe we should start a contest to see who can collect all 50 states first!
 
Raised a question on another thread whether zebra mussels can survive freezing temperatures. A quick google search indicates no. If a boat and trailer is exposed to temperatures of 90F plus for 2-4 days, the mussels will die. Also true that they cannot survive below freezing temperatures.

Found out that the larvae are microsopic, which suggest the critters can exist beyond our visual examination.

My extremely limited reading on the matter suggests that where boats and trailers are stored at temperatures outside in states that have real winters, the mussels shouldn't survive.

But since some of us are interstate boaters and snow birds, we could inadvertently introduce the mussels. This could easily become a bureaucratic nightmare. Are we all going to be subject to a national registry? 'Verification of where a boat has been is dicy.

Perhaps my concern about government intervention is exaggerated, and I don't want to see this whole issue politicized, but it is ripe for exploitation as a money maker for states strapped for funds.

There is significant research on these invasive species. This suggests we who boat must take greater responsibility for becomng informed about our impact on the environment.

John
 
As far as the requirements for Yellowstone and Teton National park
Yellowstone does not require the sticker but Teton Does.
 
Somehow a post I made yesterday seems to have been lost? Anyway. I see this as a money maker for the states, and there is little that the sticker can do to prevent infestation. Fortunately both boats we are taking are inflatables and less tnan 10 feet in lenght (not requiring a sticker).

Muscles have done very well in the great lakes (where I believe they were introduced into the US) and there are very cold winters up there (OK not as cold at Wyoming?).

I thought it was paradoxical what at Lake Powell they wanted to steam clean the bottom of the boat, but didn't do anything about the bilge, where the larvae would be more likely to survive.
 
John
Here is the link to Utah's mussel info other states probably the same.
http://wildlife.utah.gov/mussels/
Every state is probably going to put there own spin on it.
 
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