Colorado Parks and Wildlife to add 5 watercraft cleaning stations in Northwest Colorado

John F. Russell/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is continuing its fight to prevent Aquatic Nuisance Species from spreading in the state’s lakes and reservoirs.
This year, CPW is adding new gear and watercraft cleaning stations across the state to aid in its prevention efforts.
Five of those stations will be placed in Northwest Colorado:
- River Creek Park, 2965 South Lincoln Ave. in Steamboat Springs
- Pearl Lake State Park, North Routt
- Yampa River Hayden Pump Station, off U.S. Highway 40, east of Hayden
- Yampa River State Park, west of downtown Hayden
- Elkhead State Park, 135 County Road 28 in Moffat County
“As the challenge of protecting the state’s waters and infrastructure from aquatic nuisance species continues to grow, CPW is leading the charge against these destructive species,” said Robert Walters, CPW’s ANS program manager, in a news release. “As the spring season approaches, we ask for help from both the boating and water-based recreation communities to combat invasive species in the state.”
In 2021, CPW was authorized to implement its pilot roadside watercraft inspection program. The program was successful enough to launch it long-term in 2024 where ANS inspectors conducted 463,710 inspections, decontaminating 32,584 boats suspected of carrying ANS.
Some 110 boats were found carrying invasive mussels across the state last year. Mussels have the ability to cause serious damage to a reservoir infrastructure.
“Mussels aren’t going away,” Walters said in the release. “However, by continuing our preventative watercraft inspection program Colorado can continue to set an example in the West and keep our waters clear of highly destructive invasive species.”
Contaminated boats typically enter Colorado from neighboring states, especially Utah; Arizona; Kansas; Nebraska; Oklahoma; Texas and South Dakota.
Boats are not the only source of ANS entering the state, however. Any equipment that gets wet, such as waders and boots, can also carry ANS.
All boats and equipment should be cleaned, drained and dried after every use in a body of water. Boats should utilize the green-seal program and all ballast boats must have a green seal between launches or decontamination may take place prior to launching.
Boaters are encouraged to inspect their trailers and inspect all areas of their boats and engines for mussels. Boats used in waters outside Colorado should be alerted to inspectors.
Colorado requires boats to be professionally inspected if:
- A boat has been in any body of water that is positive, or suspected for ANS
- A boat has been in any body of water outside of Colorado
- A boat will be entering any water body where inspections are required
- A boat encounters an aquatic nuisance species check station
To encourage a quick inspection process, boaters should:
- Keep their green exit seal attached to the vessel and trailer. The seal tells inspectors what body of water the vessel was in last.
- Have their paper exit slip readily available. The slip tells inspectors details from a previous exit inspection that can speed up the process.
- Open and drain all compartment hatches like — live/bait wells; bilge areas; anchor compartments; equipment compartments and any other compartments that hold items that could have come into contact with water. Have the anchor and ropes out of their compartments for inspection.
- If a boater knows the next body of water they are going to, it will require a decontamination procedure. Requesting a decontamination during the exit inspection will allow a quicker transition to the next boating excursion.
For more information about CPW’s ANS program and the boat inspection process, visit CPW.State.co.us/activities/boat-inspections.
To reach Tom Skulski, call 970-871-4240, email tskulski@SteamboatPilot.com.

Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism
Readers around Steamboat and Routt County make the Steamboat Pilot & Today’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.
Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.
Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.