For the first time, Minnesota boaters will encounter mandatory roadside check stations next summer where their boats will be inspected for aquatic invasive species.
Motorists pulling boats and other marine equipment would be pulled over and checked at the stations, staffed by the Department of Natural Resources, the agency announced Friday.
Boats that fail inspections will be sent to a decontamination area to be high-pressure washed with hot water.
Boaters caught violating laws against transporting invasive species will receive citations instead of warnings, this year, all part of a crackdown to try to slow the spread of zebra mussels and other invasive species.
The DNR is buying 20 decontamination units that wil be operated at zebra mussel-infested waters, high-use destination lakes and at DNR enforcement check points. The DNR's plan is to increase inspections and decontamination of boats, and to increase public awareness of the problem.
"The DNR cannot be at every boat ramp this summer, making sure boaters, anglers and other water users are not bringing zebra mussels and other invasive species to public waters,'' said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr.
The DNR also hiring 150 watercraft inspectors who will be deployed around the state. Also, participants of major fishing tournaments will be checked for invasive species.
