I'd really like to take my boat to Powell this spring but won't do it if I can't be sure I can get it thoroughly decontaminated. My boat is older and when I pull the drain plug there's always some water remains in the bilge. What can I dump into the bilge that'll kill any quagga larvae or eggs that might have come aboard? I'm sure the rest of the boat can be adequately decontaminated before I leave the lake at the decontamination station I believe is there.
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We are all going to be in this boat from now on. You should be able to contact NPS and they will be able to give you the guidelines for Powell. Those are in the process of being formulated.
Utah I believe is in the same process as Deer Creek is on the infested list now, so you go to Deer Creek, you will have to decontaminate.
There was some discussion at our meeting this week regarding potassium chloride. It was mentioned, but nothing on how to use it. DWR used it to decon some equipment and got their information off the internet. You will also be able to get information on the hot water pressure wash decon.
Wake/Ski boats with bladders will be a big problem because even when empty, the bladders will still have water in them. Some innovative processre and go for it.
will need to be developed to deal with them.
Boats will not be the only thing affected. Float tubes, toons, canoes, kayaks, water toys, jet ski's, what ever goes in the water will have to be decontaminated.
So, while the rules are being formulated, I would go to the internet and get some information on decontamination the
Life has changed for all of us !!!
[
]I was talking with the Ranger at DC the other day in his office about chemicals that kill mollusks in general, which are filter/mucus feeders including quagga. They know chemicals that kill the quagga. The ranger explained a list of chemicals for killing them in small areas or concentrated groups of them in larger areas of a lake. I would guess these chemicals would work in or on equipment that are hard to reach with the hot water pressure equipment.
It seems feasible you could use one of these chemicals in a boat or other fishing equipment. The problem with dumping the chemicals in a lake is they affect other fauna and flora in the lake that support the food chain especially fish food pyramid for that body of water.
Give them a call at DC. I plan to stop by again tomorrow to clarify a couple questions after reading your post. I got some good ideas for cleaning my engine, boat compartments and equipment including the inside of my waders. [
] My protocol of choice will also kill the bacteria that make the odors.
Silver_Eagle
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I have had my boat decontaminated a couple times, and they stick the wand with the hot water in the drain hole to flush any water left in bilge. Also I was at lake Powell in November and there was no decontamination station in operation at that time. I asked a ranger and she told me that they only do boats coming into Powell, not boats leaving. NPS don't care about boats leaving.
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The gears of the NPS grind exceedingly slow, but they're going to have to reverse that whole idea - and soon.
It's too late to prevent mussels getting INTO Powell; they now need to get them from getting OUT.
But it'll take several studies, a few committees, and a budget increase (EVERYTHING goobermint does requires a budget increase, you know), and then two years to implement a decision that should have been made yesterday.
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From some of the discussions at Powell this past week, Park Service and Utah DWR will be working on the decontamination issue. While Park Service will be involved, I believe that Utah will be the prime mover in the process. Removing your drain plug is just the first step.
Hot water washes and chemicals will most likely be part of the process. I have used bleach in my livewells in the past, but I have not been trying to kill zebra/quagga's, just trying to clear algae and crap. One thing we can all look forward to will be a process that will require either the drain/dry technique or hot water pressure wash. We will also be restricted from launching onto another body of water after being on an infected water, ie: Deer Creek.
You launch on Deer Creek, so before you can launch say on Jordanelle, you have to decontaminate your boat, either by the passive drain/dry method or by having your boat hot water washed at a certified decon station.
Supposedly, some of these will be set up by DWR/Parks, but not sure when and where. Personally, I am going to educate myself about the process and be ready for the worst !!!
As they say its better to close the gate after the horse is out then to keep it in to start with..[:/][
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Sorry, but that dog won't hunt. I was preaching to the Clubs and Federation about this and several other problems 20yrs ago and everyone ignored me, including you Cliff, so don't try and put the blame on the DWR and Park Service, this belongs to us, the boaters and fisherman who just went along and said it wan't our problem. It is our problem and we all need to get involved or they will continue to spread over the whole region. WE need to start at home, then educate others on how damaging these things are. WE all have to get involved !!
I see that the DWR does NOT have Deer Creek listed as one of the waters that you must declare on the down loadable certification form on there website.
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It takes months or even years to change an official form at the DWR. (Unless it's a fee increase, of course.)
Officially, they're still trying to prevent mussels from getting INTO Lake Powell, for example. It's the equivalent of making restaurant workers wash their hands before using the bathroom, but not after.
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That's because they are not "established" at DC yet... I was talking to the DWR guys at E Canyon over the weekend and they said that only larva was found and they aren't sure that DC is even going to have a problem yet.
With as invasive as the quaggas are, my guess is that they will take hold there, but the DWR officer seemed a bit more optimistic.
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Boaters as a whole are pretty much aware, but you do have that ten percent. Even a crankbait could spread these nasty little critters. I like to put a little bleach in my live wells and bilge once in awhile.
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Posted this a year ago 3-19-3014, It was and still is spot on.
"The solutions now being taken to contain Invasive Mussels to currently Infected waters are Misguided and Doomed to failure. Placing resources at the hundreds of locations that have no contamination with staff unfamiliar and unwilling to be distracted from there regular duties produces a pitiful outcome for those requiring a boat decontamination.
Equipment and 24 hr staff should be located at the Entrance/Exit of every Infected location. Every watercraft should get decontaminated when leaving these locations, quickly and efficiently with the least impact to the boating public.
No honer system dilemma created at hundreds of uninfected statewide locations hoping boaters will subject themselves to delay and disappointment from the services available to decontaminate at Invasive free locations."
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Agreed, dog lover. The current system is akin to placing all healthy kids in quarantine while letting kids with measles run free.
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You are right, look at Powell..When you leave and ask for a clean out to keep from taking the little buggers with you they say no chance.. But the DWR and the state of Utah are doing all they can..[crazy]
Later they will want the fisherman to fund the bill..
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Deer Creek is just as misguided, close one ramp but decontaminate by appointment only at the remaining ramp.
Might as well open the the closed ramp for boats with no appointment.
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Yep like I said ( It is easier to put the horse back in the pen then to keep the gate closed to start with) But they are trying..
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This is just a general reply, not directed to any specific comment.
I know this isn't the right attitude, please don't crucify me. But... Wouldn't it/won't it be easier on boaters if/when all Utah waters are infested?
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Sad to say, but I agree. You never hear of of adverse effects, just things that could happen. Kinda like global warming propaganda. It's inevitable, but me and mine aren't gonna help the spread. Sure hope they never get to the snake.
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[quote bassrods]Later they will want the fisherman to fund the bill..[/quote][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]How about a July 2015 start date? SB089 has been sent to the Governor to sign. If he signs it, ALL Utah registered boat owners will be paying an additional $10 a year to register their boats (not just fishermen & women). Anybody fishing from an unregistered watercraft (kayak, toon, row boat, etc.) will not have to pay for the mussel program. And out-of-state registered boats get a free pass as well. I tried to tell the idiots that dreamed up this bill that it should be set up as a separate tag system that would be required by ALL watercraft users, not just Utah registered users, but their pea brains were already made up and common sense would not be used to craft this legislation. [/#800000][/font][font "Times New Roman"] [/font]
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