The state's safety net intended to keep invasive species from entering waterways may keep getting casted earlier at this rate.

Two mussel-fouled boats from the Great Lakes en route to Washington were recently intercepted at the westbound Interstate 90 inspection station near Rose Lake.

The station opened Feb. 3, the soonest a station has opened in the four years of the statewide program. It's the only site to open so far this year. The two boats were intercepted on Feb. 9 and 15.

"That (Interstate 90) is a major thoroughfare for threats of commercial watercraft coming across the northern tier of the United States," said Matt Voile, Idaho State Department of Agriculture's invasive species manager. "It's also a major thoroughfare for snowbirds returning to Washington and North Idaho."

Voile didn't know whether the critters were zebra or quagga mussels. The boats were escorted to Washington, where they were decontaminated.

There were 25 mussel-fouled boats intercepted in Idaho last year, and 15 of those were found at the Rose Lake station. The rest were in southern Idaho.

Thirty-eight mussel-fouled boats have been intercepted since the inspection program began in 2009.

Voile said the decision to open the station more than a month earlier than last year was driven by data. Last year the station opened on March 15 and the first mussel-fouled boat was discovered on March 19.

"Our data suggested that we may be able to intercept foul watercraft earlier than we had been," Voile said.

Voile said keeping the station open year-round in future years will be evaluated, but it depends on funding, data and other factors. Such decisions would affect the opening of other stations.

The stations at Highway 53 at the Washington state line and Interstate 90 eastbound at Huetter will open in early April, while stations at Oldtown and Samuels are slated to open in mid-May.

Six stations in southern Idaho will open on Thursday.

All boaters, even locals, must stop at the stations when they are open. The inspection program is funded by boaters when they purchase invasive species stickers during the registration process. About $800,000 is generated each year for the program.

All of Idaho's water bodies have tested negative for mussels, but they have been found in waters of other western states and are causing severe economic and environmental harm in other regions of the country.

Voile said the mussels are capable of surviving Idaho winters and up to 30 days after they've been taken out of the water.

All boaters are encouraged to have their vessels cleaned, drained and dried before they're launched.

"Catching two mussel-fouled boats so early in the season is a real wake-up call," said Agriculture Director Celia Gould. "The more the public is educated about these invaders, the more enthusiastic and vigilant they are in joining efforts to keep them out of the Pacific Northwest."

For more information about Idaho's invasive species program go to www.invasivespecies.idaho.gov or call Voile at (208) 863-1559.