Protect our waters – Clean, drain, dry

The Clearwater Junction watercraft inspection station opened April 18. Anyone transporting motorized or non-motorized watercraft is required, by law, to stop at all stations they encounter. This is an effort to protect Montana's waters and native aquatic species from aquatic invasive species (AIS).

AIS, including diseases, are easily spread from one water body to the other. Because some aquatic invasive species are microscopic, standing water inside bilges, live wells, compartments, ballast tanks or bladders can unintentionally transport these invaders. Quagga and zebra mussel larvae can survive unseen in standing water for up to 30 days.

Some waters in Montana are infested with invasive plants like Eurasian watermilfoil and curlyleaf pondweed. It only takes a fragment of this plant to start a new infestation. Removing all vegetation from watercraft, trailers and towing vehicles can stop the spread of invasive plants.

Some waters in Montana are infested with invasive Faucet snails and New Zealand mudsnails. These snails can hide on vegetation or mud left on boats, trailers and fishing gear like waders.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and partner organizations operate more than 30 watercraft inspection stations across the state. The Clearwater Junction inspection station is open from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. seven days a week. These rules are not just good ideas, they are the law.

Watercraft inspection rules: Boat owners should ensure their watercraft and trailers are clean, drained and dry before transport and need to be aware of Montana's inspection rules:

• Boaters transporting motorized or non-motorized watercraft are required to stop at all stations they encounter, as directed by signs.

• At the Clearwater Junction Inspection Station boaters traveling west and east on Highway 200 must stop at the station. People don't need to stop when coming south on Highway 83.

• All watercraft coming into Montana from out of state must be inspected prior to launching.

• All watercraft traveling west across the Continental Divide into the Columbia River Basin must be inspected prior to launching.

• All watercraft launching anywhere within the Flathead Basin that were last launched on waters outside of the Flathead Basin must be inspected.

• Boat owners transporting watercraft with ballast tanks or bladders must undergo additional decontamination at watercraft inspection stations to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Decontamination is required when coming into Montana from out-of-state or when traveling west across the Continental Divide into the Columbia River Basin.

• Even when a boat owner drains the ballast tanks or bladders some residual water remains inside. Decontamination with hot water will eliminate the possibility of transporting AIS.

• A full hot water decontamination of a more complex boat with ballasts or live wells takes on average between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the watercraft, to allow for a hot water flush of the tanks. If a boat cannot be decontaminated at an inspection station, the boat will be locked to the trailer and arrangements made for a follow-up decontamination.

• Watercraft coming off Tiber reservoir must be inspected upon exit.

• Because it is illegal to transport surface water, anglers are reminded to drain live-well upon exit and put their fish catch on ice to transport home.

At the Inspection Station: Watercraft inspection stops are typically very brief and include a short series of questions about where the watercraft has been and examining the boat and trailer. Larger or more complex boats can take longer to inspect. Watercraft owners can make this process quicker if they consistently follow the principles of clean, drain, dry.

• Be sure your boat is clean, drained and dry every time it leaves the water.

• Make sure to clean off all weeds and debris from boat and trailer, drain all water and dry all compartments.

• Inspector will check that live-wells and baitwells have been drained. Live fish are not allowed to be transported.

• Raise and lower the motor to drain water.

• Pull drain plugs and make sure all compartments, bilges and ballasts are drained.

• Dry out your watercraft, including dry wells, storage areas and compartments.

• Boat owners should be prepared to assist by removing tarps and covers and operating the ballast pumps.

Do I need to be inspected? If you answer yes to any of the following you need to be inspected prior to launching: Has your boat been out-of-state? Are you crossing the Continental Divide into the Columbia River Basin? Are you passing an open inspection station?

For more information visit http://cleandraindry.mt.gov/