Utah Department of Natural Resource officers inspected more than 8,000 boats and decontaminated about 200 over Memorial Day weekend.
Statewide, officers found several violations including failing to take the mandatory mussel-aware boater program course and not paying the aquatic invasive species fee for motorized boats.
Anyone taking watercraft onto Utah waters must take the mussel-aware course. That includes non-motorized watercraft like paddleboards and canoes.
Lake Powell is the only Utah waterbody infected with invasive species like quagga mussels and the Eurasian watermilfoil.
Efforts to inspect and decontaminate boats keep the species from spreading to other waters in the state and damaging ecosystems.
