05-19-2010, 09:59 PM
I just wanted to clarify some things, if anglers plan on fishing the Gorge this year.
If you launch in Utah and boat into Wyoming, you need the decal on your boat. It's available on the WYGF website or at any WY license dealer. WYGF will be working the ramps and also patrolling by boat this upcoming season. Of course, if you launch in UT and go into WY, you will still need to display the UT Self-Certification form on your truck dash and boat. Someone already gave the link for the UT online annual certification and there are the forms at the launches also.
If you launch in WY you not only need the decal on the boat, but you also need to fill out their Self-Certification form, available at the launch ramps.
Utah's AIS program has been funded up to this point by the state legislature, that is why no fees have been required. Wyoming's AIS program was funded this year by their state legislature, but they were delegated to start the decal program to fund it in the future. The cost of these programs is exceptional when you consider all the signage, decontamination washers, man power, etc. that it takes to pull this off.
Both of these programs mirror those used in Minnesota. They have had mussels in their lakes and rivers for decades, but last I looked, had contained them to somewhere around 150 bodies of water. Impressive considering how much water they have. They have been successful with their program by educating boaters.
It could change in the future, but it could also be worse. Lake Powell currently has ramp hours which dictate when you can launch. When I was down there last month, you could only launch between 7AM and 6PM. The National Park Service has taken this threat very seriously.
Hope this helps some. I think everyone agrees we don't want these things in our lakes, and they would be an absolute nightmare for the Flaming Gorge fishery.
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If you launch in Utah and boat into Wyoming, you need the decal on your boat. It's available on the WYGF website or at any WY license dealer. WYGF will be working the ramps and also patrolling by boat this upcoming season. Of course, if you launch in UT and go into WY, you will still need to display the UT Self-Certification form on your truck dash and boat. Someone already gave the link for the UT online annual certification and there are the forms at the launches also.
If you launch in WY you not only need the decal on the boat, but you also need to fill out their Self-Certification form, available at the launch ramps.
Utah's AIS program has been funded up to this point by the state legislature, that is why no fees have been required. Wyoming's AIS program was funded this year by their state legislature, but they were delegated to start the decal program to fund it in the future. The cost of these programs is exceptional when you consider all the signage, decontamination washers, man power, etc. that it takes to pull this off.
Both of these programs mirror those used in Minnesota. They have had mussels in their lakes and rivers for decades, but last I looked, had contained them to somewhere around 150 bodies of water. Impressive considering how much water they have. They have been successful with their program by educating boaters.
It could change in the future, but it could also be worse. Lake Powell currently has ramp hours which dictate when you can launch. When I was down there last month, you could only launch between 7AM and 6PM. The National Park Service has taken this threat very seriously.
Hope this helps some. I think everyone agrees we don't want these things in our lakes, and they would be an absolute nightmare for the Flaming Gorge fishery.
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