08-13-2008, 11:15 PM
BOAT INSPECTIONS TO BEGIN AT LAKE GRANBY
[font "Arial"]On Friday, August 15, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW), in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, will begin boat inspections for weekend boaters at Lake Granby in Grand County.
Inspections will be conducted randomly at the Stillwater and Sunset Point boat ramps. Inspectors will be present Friday through Sunday from sunrise to sunset. The Arapaho Bay boat ramp will be closed during this time.
Currently, boat inspections will be implemented on weekends, when the reservoir typically sees 95 percent of its recreation traffic. There will be no inspections Monday through Thursday or during the nighttime hours. Granby will remain open and all boat ramps will be accessible during this time. Boaters are expected to follow the Clean, Drain and Dry protocol when inspections are not available.
"Right now, our goal is to address the peak traffic periods on the lake," said Elizabeth Brown, DOW Invasive Species Coordinator. "We plan to expand the inspection efforts as additional staffing and resources become available."
Boaters should make sure their vessels are clean and dry before entering and when leaving the reservoir. This will help to insure that inspection procedures run smoothly and that no mussels or larvae are transported to another body of water. Vessels identified as "at risk" for spreading mussels or other aquatic nuisance species, will be cleaned and decontaminated at an on-site hot-water wash station.
Lake Granby is the largest reservoir in the Colorado-Big Thompson Project (C-BT). The DOW is working with the other managing agencies to develop an appropriate response plan for each of the Colorado-Big Thompson reservoirs.
Boaters are reminded to observe the following steps in order to prevent the spread of zebra and quagga mussels:
CLEAN: Remove all plants, animals, mud; and thoroughly wash everything, including all crevices and other hidden areas.
DRAIN: Eliminate all water before leaving the area, including live wells, bait containers, ballast and engine cooling water.
DRY: Allow sufficient time for your boat and other equipment to completely dry before launching in other waters.
For more information about zebra and quagga mussels visit: [url "http://www.wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/InvasiveSpecies/ZebraandQuaggaMussels.htm"][#003399]www.wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/InvasiveSpecies/ZebraandQuaggaMussels.htm[/#003399][/url]
The Colorado Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and its habitat, as well as providing wildlife related recreation. The Division is funded through hunting and fishing license fees, federal grants and Colorado Lottery proceeds through Great Outdoors Colorado.
Caring for the land and serving people. The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
For more information from the U.S. Forest Service, Contact:
John Bustos 970-295-6674
[url "http://us.mc521.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jbustos@fs.fed.us"][/url] [/font]
[font "Arial"]For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: [url "http://wildlife.state.co.us/"][#003399]http://wildlife.state.co.us[/#003399][/url][/font].
[signature]
[font "Arial"]On Friday, August 15, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW), in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, will begin boat inspections for weekend boaters at Lake Granby in Grand County.
Inspections will be conducted randomly at the Stillwater and Sunset Point boat ramps. Inspectors will be present Friday through Sunday from sunrise to sunset. The Arapaho Bay boat ramp will be closed during this time.
Currently, boat inspections will be implemented on weekends, when the reservoir typically sees 95 percent of its recreation traffic. There will be no inspections Monday through Thursday or during the nighttime hours. Granby will remain open and all boat ramps will be accessible during this time. Boaters are expected to follow the Clean, Drain and Dry protocol when inspections are not available.
"Right now, our goal is to address the peak traffic periods on the lake," said Elizabeth Brown, DOW Invasive Species Coordinator. "We plan to expand the inspection efforts as additional staffing and resources become available."
Boaters should make sure their vessels are clean and dry before entering and when leaving the reservoir. This will help to insure that inspection procedures run smoothly and that no mussels or larvae are transported to another body of water. Vessels identified as "at risk" for spreading mussels or other aquatic nuisance species, will be cleaned and decontaminated at an on-site hot-water wash station.
Lake Granby is the largest reservoir in the Colorado-Big Thompson Project (C-BT). The DOW is working with the other managing agencies to develop an appropriate response plan for each of the Colorado-Big Thompson reservoirs.
Boaters are reminded to observe the following steps in order to prevent the spread of zebra and quagga mussels:
CLEAN: Remove all plants, animals, mud; and thoroughly wash everything, including all crevices and other hidden areas.
DRAIN: Eliminate all water before leaving the area, including live wells, bait containers, ballast and engine cooling water.
DRY: Allow sufficient time for your boat and other equipment to completely dry before launching in other waters.
For more information about zebra and quagga mussels visit: [url "http://www.wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/InvasiveSpecies/ZebraandQuaggaMussels.htm"][#003399]www.wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpecies/Profiles/InvasiveSpecies/ZebraandQuaggaMussels.htm[/#003399][/url]
The Colorado Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and its habitat, as well as providing wildlife related recreation. The Division is funded through hunting and fishing license fees, federal grants and Colorado Lottery proceeds through Great Outdoors Colorado.
Caring for the land and serving people. The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
For more information from the U.S. Forest Service, Contact:
John Bustos 970-295-6674
[url "http://us.mc521.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jbustos@fs.fed.us"][/url] [/font]
[font "Arial"]For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: [url "http://wildlife.state.co.us/"][#003399]http://wildlife.state.co.us[/#003399][/url][/font].
[signature]