Mussels are the scourge of Colorado’s water system and, to help combat the invaders, Colorado Parks and Wildlife this year is requiring boaters to buy a stamp to prove the pests aren’t tagging along.
The aquatic nuisance stamp costs $25 for in-state boats and $50 for out-of-state boats. All motorboats and sailboats must have the sticker before launching into a lake or reservoir, according to a parks and wildlife news release.
State legislators last year approved a bill requiring boat owners to purchase the stamp, proving that their vessel doesn’t carry invasive mussels, the news release said.
Boaters can , at CPW offices or over 700 locations statewide, CPW said.
Aquatic nuisance species, such as zebra and quagga mussels, pose a “serious threat” to natural resources, recreation and the water infrastructure of the state, the news release said.
Mussels, which cause a host of issues, including clogging reservoir dams, outlet structures and distribution systems. They can also infest boats, damage engines, and disrupt the natural food web. Some refer to mussels as the short for “skiff-transmitted disease.
CPW said mussels have caused billions of dollars in damage in other states.
“Colorado is one of just a few states in the country that doesn’t have an infestation of adult mussels in any of its waters,” Elizabeth Brown, invasive species program manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said in the statement. “Thatap directly attributable to our mandatory inspection and decontamination program thatap been in place for over a decade now.”
A complete list of Colorado inspection sites and hours of operation, along with information about the ANS stamp, can be found on .
