Spread of mussels led to restrictions at reservoir

As of April 1, motorized watercrafts are prohibited on the LAK Reservoir to help protect against invasive aquatic species, according to a press release from Wyoming Game and Fish.
This past summer, Game and Fish announced that it was restricting all boats and watercraft at the LAK Reservoir after zebra mussels were found at Pactola Reservoir in South Dakota, as previously reported by the News Letter Journal, but the new rules will allow some boats back into the water 
 
“Non-motorized watercraft that are hand-launched will still be allowed,” the release says. “In addition to these watercraft, the reservoir will remain open to anglers for shore and ice fishing.” 
Owned by True Ranches, the privately owned LAK Reservoir is open to the public through an access agreement between Game and Fish and the ranch. The reservoir, according to the release, is a popular fishery offering the opportunity to catch a variety of fish while the water serves as an irrigation reservoir for True Ranches properties. 
 
“Due to the discovery of the invasive zebra mussels in Pactola Reservoir in South Dakota’s Black Hills in summer 2022, the threat of these species getting introduced into Wyoming water has been significantly increased,”  said Paul Mavrakis, Sheridan Region fisheries supervisor, in the release. “In discussions with True Ranches, it was decided that eliminating motorized watercraft on the reservoir would be an effective way to help reduce the AIS threat to LAK while still providing angling access.”
 
With the hopes of protecting the LAK and other Wyoming Water, all watercraft coming into the state between March 1 and Nov. 30 must be inspected prior to launch. Additionally, any watercraft that has potentially been in water infested with zebra/quagga mussels within the past 30 days must undergo a mandatory inspection before launching the watercraft in Wyoming waters. 
 
Because of the increased risk and to expedite the process for watercraft owners coming through northeast Wyoming, a new AIS inspection station has been opened at the Gateway Travel Center at the junction of U.S. Highways 16 and 85. Read Moore, a Northeast Wyoming aquatic invasive species specialist, said the hours can be found on the Wyoming Game and FIsh website. 
“If you are coming through and planning to launch, you need to plan to be inspected before you launch,” Moore said. 
 
He noted that the Game and Fish website lists all the inspection opportunities across the state. These include some businesses and private individuals who are certified to inspect watercraft. 
All residential and nonresidential watercraft owners are also required to purchase a valid AIS decal. 
 
“Only non-motorized inflatable watercraft 10 feet or less in length, solid and inflatable paddleboards regardless of length, and devices defined as water sport toys are exempt from the decal requirement,” the release says. 
 
The decals are available through any licensing agent and online, Moore said. 
 
While the main focus is on motorized watercraft, Moore told the News Letter Journal that anything that comes into contact with infested water can potentially transport an invasive species, although it does not happen often. 
 
And when it comes to invasive species, one of the big things the public should know is that it is not just boaters that will be impacted. 
 
Moore explained that the mussels can cause damage to infrastructure and completely change a location. 
 
“Zebra mussels are an extremely destructive aquatic invasive species,” said Alan Osterland, the Game and Fish chief of fisheries in a March 4, 2021, release. “Once they become established in reservoirs, lakes or even city water systems, they wreak havoc. They remove nutrients from water, clog pipes and waterways, damage boats and out-compete native mussels. Further, in many cases, zebra mussels are impossible to remove and could have costly impacts for Wyoming.” 
 
According to the same release, zebra mussels are striped and are less than 2 inches in length. In their immature stage, they can be invisible to the naked eye. The resilient, nearly impossible to eradicate, mussel attaches to any hard surface — such as metal, glass, plastic, stone, wood or rocks — and they are extremely resistant to the cold and a wide array of chemicals.