State plans boat inspection sites

POST FALLS — Educating boaters and other water users about new programs aimed at keeping invasive species out of the state has yet to be smooth sailing.

And the next wave the state faces is having both local and out-of-state boaters pull over at inspection stations that will be phased in before the Fourth of July.

Owners of all motorized and non-motorized vessels are now required to purchased invasive species stickers to help fund 12 inspection stations throughout the state, including ones at the Huetter rest stop on Interstate 90 and at Priest Lake.

The agriculture department was fielding about 300 calls per day on the stickers and stations at the start of boating season three weeks ago and are still taking about 30 per day, said Amy Ferriter of the agency.

“It’s steady, but it’s now manageable,” Ferriter said, adding that most boaters have been compliant and cooperative once they understand the programs.

Inflatable, non-motorized vessels must be less than 10 feet to be exempted from the sticker law. Prices are $10 for motorized boats registered in Idaho, $20 for out-of-state motorized vessels and $5 for non-motorized vessels.

Jim Wallace of Hauser owns a kayak in which he isn’t required to buy a sticker for, but he’s going to anyway.

“It’s marketing, it’s education and it supports the cause,” he said. “All of us are responsible for water quality. Let’s make the sticker shine because it emphasizes the need to clean your boat when you go from one lake to the next. It’s an educational awareness for all of us to be responsible.”

Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin said that while the intent of the programs is good, many citizens are still unaware that they exist or have questions. Larkin, who reviewed the programs after his boat sticker was delayed in the mail, has requested that the state hold an open house on the programs in North Idaho to bring the public up to speed and is awaiting word from the state if and when that will happen.

Larkin said the city is preparing questions to the state about the program because boating is big business in North Idaho and everyone needs to be on the same page.

The state will also hold public hearings on the temporary rules, which the inspection stations are a part of, but no dates have been set.

State officials recently approved a $1.8 million emergency plan to keep invasive species, including quagga and zebra mussels that clog pipes and propellers, at bay.

All boaters will be required to pull into the inspection stations. However, Juker said the state wants to develop a system that’s less burdensome on locals as possible and the focus is on out-of-state traffic.

Ferriter said the state realizes it can’t fund the stations 24 hours a day and all year, but it’s hopeful that the program will educate boaters to clean their boats before launching.

“We’re hoping that it becomes like a seatbelt because that’s what people do,” she said. “Hopefully what will come of this is that boaters will get used to the fact that if they come to Idaho, they need to be prepared to have their boats inspected.”

The inspection stations will likely be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Labor Day. Ferriter said the state may also do inspection “blitzes” during off times. Fire departments who use their equipment in other states will also be required to be inspected.

Boats and trailers of concern will be decontaminated with the pressure of 140-degree water and the material will be properly disposed of, Ferriter said.

The fine for not having an invasive species sticker is $57. State officials are unaware of county marine deputies levying any fines so far, just warnings. They said receipts for stickers may be used if the stickers themselves haven’t arrived due to a backlog of orders.

Ferriter said the programs have three components — educational outreach, monitoring and decontamination.

“This is a prevention program, and that is unusual for a state,” Ferriter said. “Most states wait until they have something, then they try to catch up and control it. We don’t have these invasive species in Idaho, and we want to keep it that way.”