An Update and Look Into Future Management Considerations at Lake Powell J O H N S T E F F A N U T A H D I V I S I O N O F W I L D L I F E

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1 An Update and Look Into Future Management Considerations at Lake Powell J O H N S T E F F A N U T A H D I V I S I O N O F W I L D L I F E

2 History of Cooperative Lake Powell Management Lake Powell Officially Considered Infested Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) works in partnership with National Park Service (NPS) in transition from Prevention to Containment. UDWR takes over interdiction process Two Lake Powell specific Biologists brought in to manage Uplake (Bullfrog) and Downlake (Page) Lake Powell for the UDWR. - Memorandum of Understanding signed between UDWR and NPS.

3 Current Lake Powell Management NPS makes initial contact with watercraft upon entrance UDWR performs watercraft inspections and decontaminations upon exit MOU allows the UDWR to operate NPS owned machines and to conduct inspections and decontaminations within existing NPS infrastructure UDWR has the legal authority to enforce wildlife laws including AIS

4 Current AIS Rules Regarding Utah and Lake Powell Mandatory watercraft inspections during hours of operation Illegal to move water out of Lake Powell Illegal to move any life stage of a Dreissenid Mussel dead or alive Must meet a dry time coming off Dreissenid affected body of water - 30 days (Dec-Feb) - 18 days (Mar- May) - 7 days (June-Aug) - 18 days (Sept-Nov)

5 What does the UDWR program look like? Mandatory Inspections for those not covered by a Commercial Hauler Agreement Free Decontaminations for most watercraft types Administrative Checkpoints (Law Enforcement) Data Collection and Seal Application Data sharing via ANS Mobile Local Boater Sticker Program

6 Mandatory Inspections All watercrafts must stop during hours of operation Signed with hours of operation Exceptions are those in the local boater sticker program, concessionaire dry storage watercrafts and those covered by the Commercial Users Agreement (CUA). 9,000 8,000 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 Page YTD Bullfrog YTD

7 Free Decontaminations Free Decontaminations are given to watercrafts the size of wakeboard boats and smaller Cabin Cruisers are given free decontaminations in Bullfrog- for now Must meet requirements set forth in the MOU to receive decontamination: - Have attached Mussels - Need a decon in order to abide by a state law (dry times) Page YTD Bullfrog YTD

8 Administrative Checkpoints Administrative Checkpoints are administered by UDWR law enforcement personnel. Checkpoints are conducted during the boating season to check compliance of boaters with state law. Can be held to check boater compliance at inspection stations or to check if boaters are abiding by state law (mainly water transfer). Did you clean, drain and dry? 8 have been held so far in More to come.

9 Data Collection and Seal Application Collect Bow ID, Zip Codes, Next anticipated water body, number of people contacted and seal number. Attach seal to each watercraft inspected/ decontaminated. (Orange if inspection only, Blue if Decontaminated)

10 Data Sharing UDWR Shares Bow ID s, date of contact, types of inspection and seal numbers with users of ANS Mobile.

11 Local Boater Sticker Program Local Boater Sticker Program gives locals a pass on inspection process as long as they follow certain parameters: 1) Fill out a paper application and test. 2) Go through an online training. The UDWR year long AIS certification. 3) If boating somewhere other than Lake Powell, boaters are required to receive decontamination at Lake Powell and carry receipt to next body of water 4) Local boaters are still required to clean, drain, and dry, and to follow other state laws (Arizonapull the plug) 140 given out this year

12 Future Management Considerations Updating Laws to reflect 2016 and future Continued Cooperation with NPS Certificate of Registration (COR) for Colorado River Rafting companies Privatizing of Decontaminations Seal Reciprocity Continued Outreach Research Opportunities

13 Updating Utah Rules and Laws Laws/Rules were written in 2007, prior to having a Dreissenid affected body of water in the state. New rules specific to watercraft with unidentifiable water compartments such as hard shell ballasts. Quarantining or Mandatory dry times associated with mussel encrusted watercrafts in addition to a decontamination

14 Continued Cooperation with NPS and other partners Continue our cooperative management efforts with the NPS. Resigning of the MOU. NPS is going to start collecting Bow Registrations of watercrafts entering Lake Powell in ANS Mobile.

15 Certificate of Registration (COR) Certificate of Registrations allow the public or businesses to avoid following wildlife rules if they have good reason and file with the state. The AIS COR would allow Colorado River rafting companies to use Quaternary Ammonium on areas of their rafts instead of receiving hot water decontaminations or making dry times. Must be areas where hot water would damage rafts.

16 Privatizing Decontaminations Have WIT trained 10 individuals from two separate companies in the Bullfrog area. Should be operational by spring of Would like to see private companies handle large watercrafts >24. *Page already has this policy. Bullfrog area will be the first in the state of Utah to offer privatized decontaminations UDWR already accepts decontaminations performed by Mussel Busters in Page, AZ.

17 Seal Reciprocity UDWR is working with neighboring states on seal reciprocity. UDWR has taken the initiative to decontaminate out of state boats upon request. UDWR has quarantined mussel encrusted boats headed out of state and will continue to if neighboring states request it.

18 Continued Public Outreach UDWR utilizes Facebook, Instagram and other media outlets to get the word out on quagga mussels. Present to grade school and college classrooms Attend boating and hunting shows

19 Research Opportunities Growth rate studies Quagga effects on native bentos Continue to look for other AIS

20 Thank You