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Show Page 10 The Ogden Valley news Volume XXVII Issue II June 1, 2020 DWR to Conduct Administrative Checkpoints to Help Prevent Spread of Quagga Mussels Utah Division of Wildlife Resources conservation officers will be conducting several administrative checkpoints during busy boating weekends throughout the summer, in an effort to prevent invasive quagga mussels from spreading from Lake Powell to other Utah waterbodies. Administrative Checkpoints - By state law, DWR officials are authorized to conduct administrative checkpoints on various roadways throughout the year to help prevent the spread of quagga mussels. These are different than mandatory inspection stations at waterbodies and other areas because all vehicles— not just those transporting watercraft—will be directed off the road. Then, the vehicles towing or hauling watercraft are directed to a separate area for inspections. These checkpoints are approved in advance by a magistrate and require law enforcement officers to be present. The conservation officers ensure people are complying with the requirement to stop at inspection stations, and make sure all watercraft have been cleaned and drained appropriately. Cleaning and draining includes making sure there is no water left onboard, including in wells, ballast tanks and lower engine units, and that the watercraft is free of plants, mud, and attached invasive species after leaving Lake Powell. Drain plugs must also be removed while in transit. The administrative checkpoints for this year will be held on the following dates and locations: • May 24-25: The exiting fee booth area of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near Bullfrog on SR-276 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. • June 14: At mile marker 10 on SR-95 south of Hanksville from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. • July 4-5: The exiting fee booth area of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near Bullfrog on SR-276 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. • July 25-26: The exiting fee booth area of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near Bullfrog on SR-276 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. • Aug. 9: At mile marker 10 on SR-95 south of Hanksville from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. • Sept. 6-7: The exiting fee booth area of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area near Bullfrog on SR-276 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. “There are many reasons why we’ve been able to contain quagga mussels to just Lake Powell,” Bruce Johnson, DWR aquatic invasive species statewide operations lieutenant, said. “Getting the necessary funding for the Aquatic Invasive Species program has been a huge component, as well as our partnerships with local water managers and other organizations. Our program includes inspection stations and administrative checkpoints, very dedicated staff educating the public about these invasive species, and an aggressive law enforcement effort. The majority of boaters have also been very compliant and great to work with. Without public support, we can’t succeed in this effort.” Residents and non-residents transporting any watercraft are required to stop at the checkpoints and inspection stations. What counts as a “watercraft” and would require someone to stop? Watercraft includes the following: motorboats & sailboats, jet skis & wave runners, canoes, kayaks, float tubes, trailers & vehicles that go into the water on a boat ramp, and paddleboards “Basically, if it floats, it’s a boat,” Johnson said. “Anyone transporting any watercraft is required to stop at one of our mandatory inspection stations and administrative checkpoints. We have been tasked with doing everything possible to keep quagga mussels contained in Lake Powell (as well as other infested waters outside of Utah) and out of the rest of the waters in the state. The inspection stations are conducted to eradicate and prevent these invasive species from infesting other waterbodies.” Inspection Stations - As mentioned, inspection stations are different than administrative checkpoints. Inspection stations are often located at boat launch ramps at waterbodies, but can also be located along highways. While all vehicles have to stop at an administrative checkpoint, only those with watercraft need to stop at an inspection station. Law enforcement officers may also be present at inspection stations, but are not required to be, like with administrative checkpoints. When a boater stops at a mandatory inspection station, Aquatic Invasive Species professionals will check the watercraft for attached quagga and zebra mussels and for standing water. They also examine boats to ensure the drain plugs have been removed and have not been reinstalled. They will also obtain information about where that watercraft has been used during the last 30 days. In order to maintain social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the boat decontaminations and inspections have been modified to minimize interaction between individuals. Boaters should be aware that these modified protocols will take longer than a normal inspection or decontamination and should plan accordingly. There are over 40 inspection stations located around Utah, with some located at boat launch ramps and others along highways. For a map of inspection and decontamination stations, visit <https://utahdnr.maps.arcgis.com/ apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=fa3a4dcb16 ff4b7eb401596f37772f9d> What happens if someone transporting a watercraft doesn’t stop at an inspection station? State law mandates that all watercraft stop at an operating inspection station. Anyone who doesn’t stop is guilty of a class B misdemeanor. Along with receiving a citation, the individual will be directed back to the station to get their watercraft inspected. A watercraft can also be detained or quarantined if the owner refuses to submit to an inspection. Want Some Local Elk or Deer Meat? Apply for antlerless hunts, starting May 28 If putting locally-sourced, nutritious meat on the table while enjoying Utah’s beautiful outdoors sounds good to you, take note that the application period for Utah’s 2020 antlerless hunts opens soon. Depending on the age, a cow elk can provide between 120 to nearly 200 pounds of boneless meat. That meat can then be eaten in a variety of ways, including hamburger, roasts, steaks, stews, stir-fry or in fajitas. A doe deer will provide approximately 40 pounds of boneless meat. Beginning Thursday, May 28, you can apply for a permit to hunt cow elk, cow moose, doe deer, doe pronghorn and, for the first time, ewe bighorn sheep, in Utah. (Although you cannot apply for both a cow moose permit and a ewe bighorn sheep permit in the same year; you must pick one or the other.) You must submit your application no later than 11:00 p.m. on June 18 to be included in the drawing for hunting permits. Before you can apply for a 2020 antlerless permit, bonus point, or preference point, you must have a valid Utah hunting or combination license. You can buy a license on the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources website, by calling 1-800-221-0659, or by visiting a license agent. Applications for antlerless permits can be submitted through the DWR website. Details about the different units, including boundary descriptions, biologist notes, and population and harvest statistics can be found on the Utah Hunt Planner. “The antlerless big game hunts are a great opportunity to not only harvest meat and make some great memories outdoors, but also to help manage wildlife populations and maintain healthy herds and landscapes,” DWR Big Game Coordinator Covy Jones added. In December 2019, the Utah Wildlife Board approved several amendments to the hunt drawing process, several of which apply to the antlerless permits. If a hunter surrenders their permit(s) at least 30 days before the season opens, their previously acquired bonus/preference points will be reinstated and the waiting period will be waived, if applicable. However, if they surrender the permit(s) less than 30 days before the season opens, they will lose their bonus/preference points. Previously, it was difficult to reallocate those permits when there was less than 30 days’ notice, so this change will help prevent lost hunting opportunities. Another change to be aware of is that if a hunter obtains a general-season antlerless permit over the counter (after the antlerless drawing) or a private-lands-only permit, they will lose any preference points they’ve previously accrued for that specific antlerless hunt. If they purchase an antlerless elk control permit, they will not lose their preference points. If you have questions about applying for an antlerless permit, please call 1-800-221-0659 or your nearest DWR office. The drawing results will be available on or before July 9. If any antlerless permits are available after the drawing, you can purchase them beginning July 22. Check the 2020 Utah Antlerless Application Guidebook for details. FREE FISHING cont. from page 8 State Parks website for more tips on recreating responsibly. Learn the Rules - You don’t need a license to fish on June 6, but the other fishing rules in Utah will still be in effect. Make sure you know the catch limits and rules for the waterbody you are fishing. The rules are available in the 2020 Utah Fishing Guidebook. Buy a License - Although you don’t need a fishing license on Free Fishing Day, a fishing license is required to fish any other day of the year. Fishing licenses are valid for 365 days and can be purchased online or from a DWR license agent. should remain at least 6 feet away from others who may be fishing at the same waterbody. If a waterbody looks crowded and social distancing will be different to maintain, you should try visiting a different waterbody. You should also stay home if you are feeling sick. Wherever you go fishing on Free Fishing Day, remember to pack out what you pack in and keep the area free of trash. Also note that some facilities, like restrooms or campgrounds, may be closed due to COVID-19; please respect these closures. Visit the Utah The Ogden Valley news would like to congratulate our 2020 graduates! Now that you’ve achieved this important milestone, continue to take charge of your life, set goals, and work hard to achieve them. Steer and move your life forward in the direction and with the speed that you have decided upon and charted! As you begin moving along this path that you have determined, you’ll begin to see how both challenging and rewarding it is, and, in turn, take more and more responsibility for your life and successes; success begets success. |
