August 25, 2009 - Antero Reservoir’s boat ramp will be closed for three days this fall because the state employees who manage the aquatic nuisance species inspections are required to take furlough days. The reservoir will be closed to boating on Sept. 8, Oct. 5 and Oct. 9. Non-motorized watercraft, such as bellyboats, canoes and kayaks, will be allowed on these days, as will shoreline fishing.
When the boat ramp is open, all trailered boats are subject to mandatory aquatic nuisance species inspections provided by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, in cooperation with Denver Water.
Denver Water takes the threat of aquatic nuisance species, like zebra and quagga mussels, very seriously. The mussels pose a high threat of spreading to other reservoirs and waterways throughout the state. The primary threat in Colorado is mussel movement through recreational boating, as the mussels can easily “hitchhike” by attaching themselves to boat hulls, trailers and aquatic plants.
Invasive mussels can clog pipes, valves, gates and any water-related equipment or surface. They can ruin boats by jamming equipment and causing motor damage, and they destroy fisheries by consuming nutrients and wrecking the food chain.
Boat inspections are needed to maintain the integrity of the state’s boating and fishing communities, as well as its water quality.
To shorten inspection times, boaters are asked to make sure that boats and trailers are cleaned, drained and dried after every use. This procedure will dramatically lessen the chance of mussels spreading in Colorado.
More information about zebra and quagga mussels can be found at www.100thmeridian.org.