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Needed Regulation - Up~raded class of registration for houseboats, cabin style boats or <br />other vessel types that are capable of sleeping and are likely to spend extended time on <br />water bodies. This new class of registration is due to the higher risk these vessels pose <br />towazd being contaminated with mussels due to the length of time they are typically on <br />the water. <br />Needed Regulation - Increase in boater registration fees to generate additional funds <br />targeted at aquatic invasive species prevention, containment, information/education, etc. <br />Needed Regulation - Permits for boats being store~i on waters thax indicate the vessel has <br />been inspected and/or decontaminated. In infested waters, additional permit necessary to <br />have boat inspected and decontaminated prior to leaving the site. Marina operators and <br />management entities would have this responsibility. <br />VII. EDUCATION AND INFORMATION <br />A key component of any aquatic invasive species response strategy is the development <br />and implementation of effective public education about the threat. An educaxional <br />campaign wi11 be necessary to help boaters understand the nature of the threat posed by <br />zebra mussels (and other aquatic invasive species) and to instruct them on methods to <br />minimize the spread of such species. Boaters need to take personal responsibility for <br />efforts to minimize risk. Colorado's recreational watercraft registration is coordinated <br />through Colorado State Parks. Therefore, State Parks has the lead for informing and <br />educating registered boat and other watercraft owners, with assistance from the CDOW <br />and other recreation-management entities. <br />When used in conjunction with signing, media, web-based information and statewide <br />threat campaigns have been shown to greatly reduce the risk of spreading zebra mussel <br />and other aquatic invasive species to non-infested waters in other states such as <br />Minnesota. Cooperating agencies should make personal contact with watercraft owners <br />at selected waters in addition to employing other information and education techniques. <br />Very High and Hig,h Risk Waters Inspection and Informati.on/Education <br />Trained Temporary Personnel would be used at selected waters to meet/geet recreational <br />watercraft users, perform courtesy inspections or mandatory inspections if the vessel has <br />not been inspected, and distribute informaxion/education materials regarding aquatic <br />invasive species. These people will also run portable decontamination stations (if <br />feasible) and provide additional AIS informa.tion durin~ fishing tournaments, sailing <br />regattas, etc. in conjunction with permanent CDOW or State Parks employees when <br />necessary. They would discuss this information with the watercraft operators and <br />highlight the recommended measures to clean, drain and inspect vessels to guard against <br />transporting aquatic invasive species. They would also conduct surveys to gather <br />additional watercraft use demographic information that will be used to refine future AIS <br />prevention efforts. Watercraft that have come from out-of-state and do not have an <br />7 <br />