Paddlers and motor boaters heading to national park waters might need to purchase an Aquatic Invasive Species sticker or park boating permit/Kurt Repanshek file

Ever-rising expenses in the battle against aquatic invasive species in the National Park System are driving up the costs of boating in some parks.

Not all parks require boaters to buy an "aquatic invasive species" sticker, which helps fund efforts to keep non-native quagga and zebra mussels out of lakes and streams, but some states require you to pay for a sticker in addition to any permitting fees parks charge boaters (motorized and muscle-powered).

The various inspection programs are primarily aimed at halting the spread of quagga mussels, which are native to the Caspian, Black, and Azov seas in eastern Europe. It's thought they hitchhiked to North America in the ballast water of ocean-going ships. Arriving in the Great Lakes around 1986, the shellfish have continually expanded their habitat in the United States, first moving through the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basin states before heading in all compass directions by catching rides on boats and trailers.

Quagga mussels turned up in Lake Mead National Recreation Area in 2007, and were spotted six years later at Lake Powell in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Another troublesome invasive is the zebra mussel, which also is native to the Baltic Sea. Zebra mussels can substantially harm aquatic ecosystems by reducing the health and populations of native fish and native mussels. These fingernail-sized mussels can attach themselves to wood, fiberglass, aluminum, steel, rocks, and pipes, and can be transported to a number of other bodies of water, remaining alive for up to a week out of the water. They quickly out-compete native species, change water chemistry and turbidity, change oxygen content, and have significant impact on native fish species.

This past summer there was a search for zebra mussels in Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota after zebra mussel veligers (larval stage of zebra mussels) were found in 2021. 

Some states in the Intermountain West require motorists hauling watercraft, including canoes and kayaks, to stop at ports of entry to be checked for invasive species, including quagga mussels. 

Here's a glance at how various parks are dealing with the costs, and containment, of aquatic invasive species.

Curecanti National Recreation Area, Colorado

At Curecanti National Recreation Area there is no AIS fee, but all "motorized and trailered watercraft launching in Blue Mesa Reservoir are required to be inspected for aquatic invasive species prior to launching, and if necessary, decontaminated in accordance with procedures set by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. In addition to the mandatory inspection prior to launch, boaters are encouraged to get an exit inspection to verify the watercraft has been cleaned, drained and dried."

"Motorized and trailered watercraft launching in Morrow Point and Crystal Reservoirs may be launched without an inspection if your watercraft is registered in Colorado, has not been out of state waters within the last 30 days, has not been in infested waters and does not contain aquatic invasive species," the park adds.

Watercraft not needing to be inspected at Curecanti include rafts, kayaks, belly boats, float tubes, canoes, windsurfer boards, sail boards, inner tubes, kite boards, and small open boats.

The NRA also charges a $10 permit fee for 14 days for motorboats, $4 for two days, or $30 for an annual permit.

Glacier National Park, Montana

At Glacier there is no charge for either AIS inspections or permits, said the park's backcountry permit office. While an exact cost of the AIS program in Glacier wasn't immediately available, it was estimated to be several hundred thousand dollars a year, which "funds AIS boat inspectors and monitoring for AIS in all of Glacier's major lakes, as well as partially funding partner inspection stations on the Blackfeet Reservation," the office staff said in an email.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah/Arizona

At Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah and Arizona the boating permit runs $30 for seven days. The revenues that fee raises go specifically for lake-related deferred maintenance projects such as maintaining boat ramps, docks, and public boat pump outs for sewage, not for AIS costs.

"Glen Canyon National Recreation Area operates its mussel containment program with annually recurring $750,000 base funding (labor, materials, equipment, training)," said NRA spokesperson Mary Plumb. "The total costs of the program would include what our partners, the states of Arizona, and Utah, who also support containment efforts, expend."

Meanwhile, Glen Canyon's staff is "currently working on a proposal to implement a tiered annual boat pass, with fees based on the length of the vessel," said Plumb. "Prior to implementation, this proposal must be approved and go through the public comment process."

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Plan to paddle in Grand Teton National Park next summer and, if you're from out of state, you would have to pay $80 for two kayaks or canoes ($25 per boat, plus $15 for a state-required aquatic invasive species permit per boat) for one day.

The value kicks in if you're in the park for a week or more, as there is no daily permit fee, just an annual fee ($25 per boat for non-motorized, $75 per boat for motorized). But the costs for boating on Jackson Lake demonstrate how costly aquatic invaders -- quagga mussels and zebra mussels - the size of your smallest fingernail can be.

"The program costs about $500,000 a year and that does not cover overhead," Valerie Gohlke, Grand Teton's spokesperson, said. "The $500,000 covers patrols, boat inspections, education, etc."

That half-a-million dollars, she added, does not cover all of the costs of battling AIS in the park.

Isle Royale National Park, Michigan

All vessels (including non-motorized craft) visiting or transiting park waters, along with associated equipment, must be decontaminated by an approved method prior to entering park waters.

In an effort to halt the spread of invasive mussels, the park has partnered with the Keweenaw Invasive Species Management Area to offer free boat washes at marinas and boat launches in Houghton, Baraga, and Keweenaw counties in Michigan. 

The boat wash events, funded by the National Park Service and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, are held to encourage boaters, kayakers, and jet skiers to Clean, Drain, and Dry watercraft to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, particularly zebra mussels, in Lake Superior waters. The boat wash stations are high-pressure, high-temperature systems designed to disinfect watercraft prior to entering and when leaving waterbodies.

There is no specific fee for boating in the park, though you do need to get a free permit for overnight camping whether you are hiking or paddling for multiple days.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada

Boaters can purchase a Lake Mead Annual Vessel Pass for $50 for their motorized vessel or $16 for a 1- to 7-day pass. Non-motorized vessels do not require a Lake Mead Vessel Pass.

Purchase Annual Boat Pass Online

In addition, some boaters must purchase an AIS decal for their craft, which is not available at the park. You must purchase the decal prior to arrival through the Nevada Department of Wildlife. To find out if your vessel requires an AIS decal check these informative graphics - Needs a Sticker - Does Not Need a Sticker. To purchase this decal please visit the NDOW website at www.ndowlicensing.com (service fees apply) OR Toll Free at (866) 703-4605).

Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota

There is no AIS fee at Voyageurs, though houseboaters are charged a $15 nightly fee in additional to a $10 reservation service fee per transaction.

Along with concerns over quagga and zebra mussels, the park also has been invaded by spiny water fleas, "tiny (1/4-5/8") crustacean zooplankton native to Eurasia" that arrived in the Great Lakes via the ballast water of ships. They threaten the park's aquatic ecosystems and fishing by competing with native fish for food and fouling fishing gear, according to park staff.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

In Yellowstone, boating fees run $20 per non-motorized boat for seven days or $30 for the full season. Motorboat permits are $40 for seven days or $60 for the season. And then on top of those fees is the Wyoming AIS permit fee per boat.

"We expend $335,000 on preventative AIS measures, including boat inspections," said park spokesperson Linda Veress. 

Overall, she said, the park spends more than $2 million per year to eradicate non-native lake trout from Yellowstone Lake and eradicate other non-native species in other Yellowstone waterways, along with restoration of native fish species.

"We use $1.1 million from entrance fees and $1 million from philanthropy through Yellowstone Forever to fund a large portion of the amount we spend in the park," said Veress.