PRIEST RIVER — Idaho is playing hard ball this year in the fight against quagga/zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species who think they can hitch a ride by boat across the country and hang out in our waters.

The Idaho legislature has authorized stations to be opened from dawn till dusk this season. Targeting early morning and late night travelers. Idaho has been successfully operating mandatory boat inspection stations since 2009, but every year there are some minor kinks to work out. Expanding hours of operation is an important improvement this year and shows Idaho’s commitment to this effort.

Stations in southern Idaho opened March 1 and have inspected almost 3,000 boats since then. On Highway 93, two mussel-fouled boats were discovered at the onset of opening. Boats are actively moving across the states with this beautiful spring weather. Boats traveling from mussel infested waters such as Lake Mead, Lake Powell and Lake Havasu are common visitors to Idaho’s inspection stations. Invasive quagga/zebra mussels have been found in Arizona, Nevada, Utah and California waterways.

These mussels have yet to be discovered in any Idaho waterbody and have not appeared in the Columbia River System to date. But they are no doubt a very real threat that needs our full attention.

If mussels were introduced to our waters, it would cost Idaho approximately $100 million annually just to manage their impacts. Eradication would be very unlikely. These bivalves attach themselves to hard and soft surfaces and don’t let go. Then they multiply at an exponential rate. Quagga/zebra mussels are gluttonous filter feeders who eliminate phytoplankton, ultimately destroying the entire food web.

Our fishery here in North Idaho would suffer greatly and the quality of life we experience on our abundant lakes would change drastically.

Here in Bonner County, there are three inspection stations opening May 20th — Samuels, Albeni Falls Visitor Center and Clark Fork.

These stations are managed by Bonner Soil & Water Conservation District and will be open from dawn to dusk (5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.).

For more information please visit www.bonnerswcd.org or call 208 263-5310.

n What can you do?

Clean, drain, dry your watercraft and all your equipment. Mussels and other aquatic invasive organisms need water to survive. Please take the time to thoroughly clean and dry your gear. Moving invasive plants and animals within Idaho waterways is also of serious concern.

n Who needs to stop at the stations?

Anyone with a motorized or non-motorized watercraft 10 feet or longer.

By state law, no person shall proceed past or travel through an established inspection station during it hours of operation while towing, carrying or transporting any conveyance without presenting such conveyance for inspection.

n Do you need an Invasive Species Stickers?

If your boat is registered in Idaho you do not need to purchase a sticker, it is included in your registration fee.

If you are from Idaho and have a non-motorized boat 10 feet or longer, you will need a sticker.

If you are from out of state, you will need to purchase an invasive species sticker for your motorized and non - motorized boat.

Stickers are $22 for motorized vessels and $7 for non-motorized craft