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Inspecting your boat or other watercraft for aquatic invasive species is required in many states.
Use the free Expect to Inspect mapping tool to ensure your watercraft is safe, secure, and free of aquatic invasive species. The map also includes self-service, free-to-use cleaning stations.
Scroll down further to see a list of laws and regulations on AIS for every state.
Important: While cleaning stations are a great resource, they DO NOT count as a required inspection, and do not give permission to launch.
United States Laws and Regulations on AIS
(scroll down for Canada)-
Vessels and trailers launched in Alabama waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Alaska waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Arizona waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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All aquatic vessel drain plugs including, but not limited to, bilges, live wells, bait wells, and ballast tanks, must be removed before and during trailering of vessel.
Transportation of bait fish is allowed, but should be transferred in clean water brought from home.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in California waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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ALERT: Zebra mussels larvae (referred to as veligers) have been found in the Colorado River near Grand Junction! Please take a moment to Clean, Drain, and Dry all organisms and standing water before leaving the access.
Clean off any mud or vegetation
Drain any standing water including from bait buckets
Dry any residual water thoroughly with a towel
THANK YOU!
All vessels (except those that are hand-launched and human-powered) must be inspected at a state authorized location prior to launching in any water of the state if the vessel has been in another state’s waters in the last 30 days or if the vessel is not registered in Colorado.
All vessels (except those that are hand-launched and human-powered) must be inspected prior to leaving a water body infested by invasive species.
If inspection facilities are not available, the vessel must be inspected prior to launching in any other water of the state.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Watercraft traveling on state roads must be free of aquatic organisms and drain plugs removed.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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To operate a registered out of state vessel on Connecticut’s inland waters, operators must purchase an annual Aquatic Invasive Species stamp. The stamp is available for purchase here.
Vessels and trailers launched in Massachusetts waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Delaware waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Florida waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Georgia waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Hawaii waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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All out of state watercraft must be inspected prior to launching in Idaho waters.
All watercraft must stop at all inspection stations during their hours of operation as they are encountered.
Idaho law states that any motorized or non-motorized boat operating in Idaho is required to display an Invasive Species Fund (ISF) sticker. Stickers may be purchased online, at any Idaho State Park, or at specific vendors. Motorized watercraft with Idaho registration have the sticker and fee included with annual registration. Watercraft that are non-motorized, less than 10 feet in length, and inflatable are not required to display a sticker. Watercraft must meet all three criteria to be exempt.
Watercraft and trailers launched in Idaho waters must be free of aquatic organisms, including plants.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before launching or leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
All watercraft that have been in mussel fouled water within the last 30 days must be inspected and have proof of inspection prior to launching in Idaho waters.
Watercraft must have all bilge, ballast, or other barriers preventing water drainage removed while being transported by land within the state (ie. Pull the Plug)
All watercraft that launch on the Snake River between Murtaugh Bridge and Yingst Grade require a mandatory inspection and decontamination. Watercraft launched in this reach are subject to quarantine.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Illinois waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Indiana waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Iowa waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Drain plugs, bailers, valves, or other devices used to control the draining of water from ballast tanks, bilges, and live wells must be removed or opened while transporting vessels.
Bait may not be disposed of in waters of the state. Trash or bring clean water from home to transport unused bait.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Livewells and bilges must be drained and drain plugs removed from all vessels before transport on any public highway of the state.
Species on the prohibited species list may not be possessed or transported except as authorized by a wildlife importation permit. The prohibited species list can be found here.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Kentucky waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Louisiana waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained. This must be done in a way that does not allow drained water to enter any inland water of the state.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Maryland waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Massachusetts waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Michigan law requires that a person remove all aquatic organisms from watercraft, trailers, and gear before launching into Michigan waters.
Prior to transporting any watercraft over land, boaters are required to:
Remove all drain plugs
Drain all water
Ensure the watercraft, trailer, and gear are free of aquatic organisms, including plants
Bait may not be disposed of in waters of the state. Trash or bring clean water from home to transport unused bait.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Drain plugs, bailers, valves, or other devices used to control the draining of water from ballast tanks, bilges, and live wells must be removed or opened while transporting vessels.
Bait may not be disposed of in waters of the state. Trash or bring clean water from home to transport unused bait.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Mississippi waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Missouri waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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If you carry or tow any watercraft (motorized or non-motorized) you must stop at all open watercraft inspection stations you encounter.
Watercraft inspection is required before launch for all watercraft entering Montana.
Watercraft inspection is required before launch for all watercraft crossing west over the Continental Divide and entering the Flathead Basin.
Boats with a ballast or bladder that intend to launch on Montana waters must obtain a decontamination before launching.
Non-resident watercraft launching in Montana must purchase a Vessel AIS Prevention Pass (AISPP) available at FWP regional offices or online here.
When removing a vessel from the water and before leaving the associated boat launch or parking area remove all aquatic organisms from the vessel, trailer, and equipment. Drain and dry all compartments or spaces that hold water including bilges, live wells, pumps, motors, ballast tanks, and bait buckets.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Nebraska waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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All watercraft using Nevada waters are required to display an Aquatic Invasive Species decal. Decals may be purchased here.
Vessels and trailers being launched into infested waters must be decontaminated before launching in another waterbody.
It is unlawful to launch a vessel into any body of water in Nevada for which the Department has approved an inspection program without first complying with that program.
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Vessels and trailers launched in New Hampshire waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in New Jersey waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in New Mexico waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in New York waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in North Carolina waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Live bait or aquatic organisms may not be transported into North Dakota.
Drain plugs must be removed and water draining devices must be open on all watercraft during any out-of-water transport.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
For a full list of regulations, visit here.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Ohio waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Oklahoma waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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ALL BOATERS (transporting motorized or non-motorized watercraft) are REQUIRED to stop if inspection station is open. Inspections take approximately 10 minutes, and will come with an inspection report as proof of compliance.
Failure to stop at an inspection station could result in a fine of $115.
An out-of-state aquatic invasive species permit is required for motorized boats operating in Oregon waterways, and a Waterway Access Permit is required for non-motorized boats 10 feet and longer.
Traveling through Oregon and not launching watercraft in state waters DOES NOT require a permit.
Drain plugs must be removed and water draining devices must be open on all watercraft during any out-of-water transport.
Releasing live bait or aquatic animals from one waterbody into another is illegal. Failure to comply could result in a fine of $125,000 or the cost of restoring the waterway.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
Learn more about required permits here.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Pennsylvania waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Prohibited is the transport of any plant or plant part into or out of any Rhode Island waterbody on boats, vessels, other water conveyances, vehicles, trailers, fishing supplies, or any other equipment with the exception of authorized research activities, species identification and other management activities.
It is prohibited that any person use foot gear with external felt soles or other natural or synthetic porous material capable of absorbing liquid that is attached to the soles of wading foot gear in any freshwaters of the state. This shall include any waters shared with adjacent states in which any Rhode Island fishing regulations apply.
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Vessels and trailers launched in South Carolina waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in South Dakota waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Tennessee waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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It is illegal to transport live or dead zebra or quagga mussels attached to a watercraft
All water must be drained from watercraft when transporting the vessel on a public roadway
Aquatic invasive plants must be immediately removed from watercraft, trailers, and transport vehicles when leaving a water body
Boats stored in the water on lakes with invasive mussels may require inspection and decontamination prior to transport. Contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at (512) 389-4848 or AquaticInvasives@tpwd.texas.gov at minimum 72 hours before moving the boat.
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ALL motorized boats used in Utah waters that are not currently registered through the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles are subject to a $25 AIS vessel enrollment fee, and all boaters must complete an annual mussel-aware boater education course prior to enrolling.
Follow these steps to meet the requirements:
1) Register your vessel in your state of residence. You will need your bow number for your Utah nonresident AIS vessel enrollment (see step 3).
2) Take the free mussel-aware boater online course. This course is designed to educate boaters about quagga mussels, their impacts and relevant aquatic invasive species laws in Utah. (You must take this course before enrolling your vessel; please note your “Customer ID” information upon completion.)
3) Using your customer ID, complete the AIS vessel enrollment and pay the $25 nonresident boater fee (good for the current calendar year).
4) You will receive a current-year Utah AIS decal in the mail to affix to your vessel. Placement instructions are provided with the decal.
5) When boating anywhere in Utah, make sure that a printed copy of your AIS vessel enrollment certification is displayed on the dash of your towing vehicle, and that you have a current-year Utah AIS decal affixed to your boat.
Note: These steps must be completed prior to arriving in Utah.
Do I need to complete the online education course and pay the fee to use my SUP, kayak, canoe, etc.?
No, non-motorized vessels are not subject to these requirements, but users of non-motorized watercraft are still required to self-certify that they’ve effectively cleaned, drained (if applicable) and dried their vessel before launching in a Utah waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Vermont waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Virginia waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Washington waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in West Virginia waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Wisconsin waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Any watercraft entering the state that was used on infested water in the last 30 days must be inspected for AIS before launching in Wyoming.
Any watercraft entering the state from March 1 - November 30 must be inspected for AIS before launching in Wyoming.
All watercraft must possess a valid AIS decal prior to launching in Wyoming.
All visible organisms must be removed from watercraft/trailer once it leaves the water
Boaters must drain all water including from all compartments
All bilge/ballast/live well plugs must be removed while transporting the craft by land in the state
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
Canadian Laws and Regulations on AIS
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Vessels and trailers launched in Alberta waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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If you’re bringing your boat from out-of-province, contact the Provincial Program at COS.Aquatic.Invasive.Species@gov.bc.ca to determine if your boat is HIGH-RISK and should be decontaminated for possible zebra or quagga mussels before launching it in B.C. waters. Do not launch the boat into any B.C. waters until you have received instruction from a B.C. Provincial Aquatic Invasive Species Inspector.
Our inspection stations will be stopping and inspecting all boats entering the province. We request notifications of all boats that are being brought to B.C. to streamline the process and reduce your travel time.
The information we require is:
Where the boat is coming from
Destination location
Contact information (either owner, hauler/driver or destination location)
Type of boat
Watercraft decontaminations are free and Provincial inspectors can inspect watercraft upon arrival to ensure they are clean before launching in B.C. waters. Advanced notification will help streamline this process.
If you are transporting a watercraft in B.C., it is a mandatory requirement that you stop and report to all invasive mussel inspection stations along your travel route.
Transporting live or dead Zebra/Quagga mussels into B.C. is a federal and provincial offence and those in possession of the infested watercraft will be liable.
Help us keep B.C. waterways clear of Zebra and Quagga mussels. Report any boats you suspect to be carrying invasive mussels that may be travelling from out-of-Province to the RAPP line (1-877-952-7277).
Low Risk Watercraft
Watercraft that have only been used within British Columbia or other non-contaminated provinces or states and are found to be clean, drain, dry and free of mud, debris, plants or any other AIS. Zebra and quagga mussels have not been detected in British Columbia, (see the US Geological Survey map for current North American distribution).
To prevent the spread of other AIS within B.C. boaters should practice Clean, Drain and Dry.
High Risk Watercraft
Any watercraft or equipment that has been launched in any waters of a province or state known or suspected of having zebra or quagga mussels in the past 30 days (see the US Geological Survey map for current North American distribution).
Or any watercraft or equipment that is coming or is registered to a state / province that has zebra or quagga mussel infestations and is not clean, and to the extent practical, drained and dry.
Or any watercraft that is dirty, crusty or slimy with the potential risk of transporting other AIS.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Any boat leaving the water of an AIS control zone must be decontaminated by pressure washing, bleaching or similar techniques before launching in a lake or river free of invasive species.
There are seven control zones in Manitoba, they include the:
Vessels and trailers launched in Manitoba waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Newfoundland and Labrador waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in New Brunswick waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Nova Scotia waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Ontario waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Prince Edward Island waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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Vessels and trailers launched in Quebec waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
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It is mandatory to stop at any inspection station you encounter along your route into, through or within Saskatchewan, even if you have been previously inspected.
If you have been directed to an inspection station or told to wait for direction from Ministry of Environment staff, you are legally required to ensure that your watercraft and equipment do not contact Saskatchewan waters until an officer performs an inspection/decontamination or provides direction to proceed.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear should be free of aquatic invasive species before launching in Saskatchewan waters.
Ensure watercraft and related equipment are Clean, Drained and Dry before entering a waterbody, and before moving between waterbodies.
It is mandatory for drain plugs to be removed when transporting watercraft in Saskatchewan.
Do not assume any watercraft is free of aquatic invasive species. It is your responsibility to inspect your own watercraft and gear after each use.
Possessing or transporting prohibited aquatic species, such as invasive mussels (dead or alive), is illegal and comes with potential fines and quarantine of your watercraft.
Call 800-567-4224 or email centre.inquiry@gov.sk.ca in advance of your travel to SK to coordinate watercraft inspection/decontamination.”
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Vessels and trailers launched in Canada waters must be free of aquatic organisms.
All watercraft, trailers, and gear must be organism free before leaving a body of water, and all water must be drained.
Please practice Clean Drain Dry before entering and before leaving each waterbody.
Request free materials!
Outreach materials are available now! Fill out the form below, and you will be mailed a FREE Expect to Inspect outreach kit containing:
1,000 decals - great for distribution during inspections
100 rack cards - explains the program in greater detail
40 posters- hang in rest areas, bait shops, gas stations, and more
Something missing?
Our mission is to provide a complete list of inspection, decontamination, and cleaning stations nationwide. We need your help in completing our dataset!
Please let us know about anything we’ve missed.
The Expect to Inspect program is brought to you in part by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with funding provided by the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Action Plan for Western U.S. Waters.
