Deep Creek Irrigation bans all boats/floation devices.

[Idaho]

Deep Creek Irrigation bans all boats/floation devices at reservoir due to threat of guagga musssels.

The Idaho Enterprise.

Daniel's and Devils might be next.


Idaho
[signature]

[Bassin_Blitz]

Twin Lakes Canal likely to follow with Twin Lakes, winder, and Condie.

http://www.localnews8.com/news/Franklin-...e/39014280

After the state cut funding to keep open all of Franklin County's boat checking stations, the county was looking to close the reservoirs for the season to prevent infestation.

Irrigation companies have now decided what their new policy on the reservoirs will be.

According to a press release from the Consolidated Irrigation Company, only non-motorized watercraft will be allowed on the Glendale and Lamont reservoirs.

The Foster and Johnson reservoirs will allow hand-propelled or electric trolling motors only.

Ballast and wake boats are not allowed at all, on any of the four reservoirs. Any watercraft using the reservoirs will need certification that they passed inspection.
[signature]

[outdoorsman1]

That will change alot of things about those places. I imagine the ice fishing over there will improve. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for other places like those.......Makes you wonder if fish and game will continue to stock like before....
[signature]

[Idaho]

outdoorsman1,

The waters in Oneida. Hold just enough water. But, that might change. Their are a lot of pivots popping up.

Idaho
[signature]

[outdoorsman1]

There is no doubt that invasive species could change boating and fishing for everyone if we dont stay on top of it. I wish the state was more protective of its waters, to cut funding sounds irresponsible.....
[signature]

[wormandbobber]

We all wish the state would be more protective of its waters, but I wish fishermen and boaters were much more protective. The reality is that state entities are strapped for cash and manpower. Paying for protection could be very costly, and I am not sure the general public cares enough to pay that price. So, we are left managing it mostly by ourselves, and, ly, too many users don't care enough to protect the resource.
[signature]

[doggonefishin]

[quote wormandbobber] ly, too many users don't care enough to protect the resource.[/quote]


Yes, I think that anglers definitely could be more proactive, but when I talk to folks from the "power squadron" some of them could seem to care less. Their waterskiing and tooling around is unaffected in their mind, whether there are mussels in the lake or not. Lake closures hurt, but maybe it drives home the point a bit harder.
[signature]

[wormandbobber]

This is exactly what the power squadron need to be made more aware of...the idea that irrigation companies will be forced to shut down reservoirs to boating because of the threat these mussels are. The fact that the mussels can clog pipes and totally ruin irrigation systems definitely scares some of these irrigation companies to death. I know that the Washington County Water Conservancy District is scared to death about mussels in Quail Creek and Sand Hollow because of the need for that water. Because of the popularity of those waters for boating, the power squadron needs to be educated soon or they will undoubtedly lose waters here in Utah as well...
[signature]

[smokepoles]

I thought Idaho started a AIS boat sticker program. If so, where are those $ going?

[signature]

[CVfisher]

Exactly who paid for those dams around Preston? Was it you and I as tax payers via the Federal Government? If so, I want a say....
[signature]

[Fowl-Hook]

Implementing 100% decontamination of all watercraft leaving contaminated waters 24/7 would cost less and have a much better chance of success.
Other States may even contribute to a concentrated plan at waters like Lake Powell rather than squander resources at every water within their jurisdictions.
Lots of money being collected and spent on the current spotty planing that I believe is certain to fail.
If you can't stop mussels from leaving a few contaminated waters it's ridiculous to think you'll prevent it's arrival at 1000's of mussel free waters.
[signature]

[TubeFisherman]

What is the effective date of the closure?
[signature]

[Fishrmn]

Yep. Well said.
[signature]

[dubob]

[quote CVfisher]Exactly who paid for those dams around Preston? Was it you and I as tax payers via the Federal Government? If so, I want a say....[/quote][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Don't get me wrong - I FULLY understand where you're coming from. But let's not forget that almost every reservoir constructed in this country (if not 100% of them) were constructed to provide a water source for consumption and or irrigation for food crops. Never has the recreational uses been the main purpose for said construction. Recreational use will ALWAYS take a back seat to the primary purpose - ALWAYS. If recreational use impacts significantly the primary purpose of the reservoir, then restrictions will be, and are being, applied. It matters not that ALL tax payers are funding these projects. And the last I knew, consumption of water by humans is required to sustain life. Fishing and boating are not. Again, not throwing stones at you or anybody else, but we really do need to keep the bigger picture in perspective when it comes to management of our water resources regardless of which state they reside in.[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]
[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Until ALL boaters/fishermen take 100% responsibility for controlling the spread of mussels and state agencies do the same, then restrictions and closures are going to be the norm. It ain't pretty, but it is what it is and we are going to have to live with the results.[/#800000][/font]
[signature]

[CVfisher]

I have lived in the Preston area for 35 years. The local canal company is much more powerful than local or county government, and not much less than the Mafia. The actual danger of those ponds becoming infected is virtually zip, but they will continue to bully and throw their weight around, they been doing it for decades...
[signature]

[AlexB]

[quote dubob][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]
[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Until ALL boaters/fishermen take 100% responsibility for controlling the spread of mussels and state agencies do the same, then restrictions and closures are going to be the norm. It ain't pretty, but it is what it is and we are going to have to live with the results.[/#800000][/font][/quote]

Innocent until proven guilty! So far they haven't found one boat with mussels that was going to these reservoirs.
I understand rules need to be tightened but the actions taken are extreme.

Raise the sticker/registration fee a little. Open an extra station with the extra revenue. Require your boat to be checked at a station. Educate your boat owners with an online test like Utah does. But don't just close down. [frown]

I hope they are just posturing to put pressure and get better rules passed.
[signature]

[Stratos99]

Dang, there goes all the bass tournaments, too bad, there are some big fish up there in some of those reservoirs.

I agree, 100% of boaters need to be responsible and do the right thing, that includes fishermen and power squadron alike.

It is too bad it has come to this but I do understand.
[signature]

[PBH]

[quote AlexB]So far they haven't found one boat with mussels that was going to these reservoirs. [/quote]

Maybe not to those specific reservoirs, but boats HAVE been found contaminated with mussels. They have impounded boats.

The Fiesta Queen story is just one where a boat destined for Canda was stopped in Utah, found to be contaminated, and impounded.
[url "http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/leaping-out-of-the-lakes-invasive-mussels-spread-across-america-b99297535z1-267015281.html"]http://www.jsonline.com/...535z1-267015281.html[/url]


The threat to these small impoundments in southern Idaho, as well as all across Utah and the rest of the West, is REAL! I'm actually surprised that it took this long for an irrigation company to close access to boats. This is the first of more to come. The risks to these impoundments are far too great for most irrigation companies to accept. The amount of money required to deal with mussels is too high for most irrigation companies to absorb -- so in order to protect their investment, they close lakes to boats.

I don't think Utah is that far behind. At some point, Washington County Water Conservancy District is going to look at their investment (Quail, Sand Hollow, Gunlock, etc...) and say, "it just isn't worth the risk".


This is real. Boaters must look at themselves and accept responsibility for this issue. It's up to us to find a resolution that protects our waters.




(FWIW -- I hear rumor that the DWR has had 4 guys spending the last 4 days cleaning another boat being moved from Meade to Bear Lake. The boat was spotted on I-15 by a DWR employee, who noticed mussels. Currently impounded)
[signature]

[Therapist]

I hate to say "I told you so", but I was beating this drum 30 yrs ago with the Bass guys. Some listened, but the majority ignored it. Now, it is all coming home and they don't like it. Water skiers and Wake boarders, not to paint with a broad brush, don't care until they get slapped with fines and such. Lake Powell was infected by a boat out of the Vegas area most likely. It is inconvenient to abide by the rules and decon your rig when you are coming from a water that is infected. In addition, the ballast tanks are almost impossible to completely drain and decon, reason they are going to wings to create the wake now.

As to the future of Tournament fishing, think Kayak, Toon, or Float tube. Not many started around here, but yak tournaments are huge in the midwest and along the Gulf coast. No livewells, no live weigh ins, all measuring and pics.

The cost of dealing with mussels is huge and as already stated, water companies will shut it all down to prevent contamination of their waters !!! I fished in Idaho several times last fall and found the folks at the inspection station very cordial to work with. Even though the boat had been sitting for about 10 days, they went ahead and deconed it, took us about 30 minutes, BIG DEAL !! Will be going to Powell shortly and will have to have the boat decon'd after that, so what, big deal !! My guess is that more and more restrictions are coming and more costs. We are all going to have to learn to deal with it !!!

[gstott]

[quote Therapist]
As to the future of Tournament fishing, think Kayak, Toon, or Float tube. Not many started around here, but yak tournaments are huge in the midwest and along the Gulf coast. No livewells, no live weigh ins, all measuring and pics.
[/quote]

That all sounds good and reasonable to me. Unfortunately some of the canal companies have gone overboard and are banning any and all watercraft including kayaks and float tubes. There is so little chance of one of these transferring mussels, but they're talking of banning them anyway.
[signature]