Stop the spread

Stop the spread

Ready to hit the water? Start here before you go:

Utah’s scenic waters provide recreational enjoyment for boaters year-round. Before launching your vessel, make sure to get familiar with the rules and requirements of boating in Utah, and help stop the spread of invasive quagga mussels.

Remember: If it floats, it’s a boat!

All boaters — Utah resident and nonresidents — must complete the free current-year Utah Mussel-aware Boater course and either print out proof of course completion or download it to your Utah Hunting and Fishing mobile app prior to launching in any Utah waterbody. The course completion is valid for the current year.

Boaters with motorized watercraft must enroll their vessel in the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources AIS vessel enrollment program and purchase a current-year AIS decal via the DWR. (You will be prompted to go to the AIS vessel enrollment program after successfully completing the Mussel-aware Boater course.) The fee is $20 for Utah residents and $25 for boats registered outside Utah. Boaters receive their annual AIS decal in the mail and must display it on their vessel prior to launching.

Note: Previously, the mussel-aware boater education course was only required for non-resident boaters, and Utah residents paid the AIS fee when they registered their boat through the DMV. This is no longer the case as of July 1, 2023.

Ready to hit the water? Start here before you go:

Utah’s scenic waters provide recreational enjoyment for boaters year-round. Before launching your vessel, make sure to get familiar with the rules and requirements of boating in Utah, and help stop the spread of invasive quagga mussels.

Remember: If it floats, it’s a boat!

All boaters — Utah resident and nonresidents — must complete the free current-year Utah Mussel-aware Boater course and either print out proof of course completion or download it to your Utah Hunting and Fishing mobile app prior to launching in any Utah waterbody. The course completion is valid for the current year.

Boaters with motorized watercraft must enroll their vessel in the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources AIS vessel enrollment program and purchase a current-year AIS decal via the DWR. (You will be prompted to go to the AIS vessel enrollment program after successfully completing the Mussel-aware Boater course.) The fee is $20 for Utah residents and $25 for boats registered outside Utah. Boaters receive their annual AIS decal in the mail and must display it on their vessel prior to launching.

Note: Previously, the mussel-aware boater education course was only required for non-resident boaters, and Utah residents paid the AIS fee when they registered their boat through the DMV. This is no longer the case as of July 1, 2023.

The Culprit

Boat motor encrusted with quagga mussels

The Culprit

Mussel infestations in Utah lakes

Quagga mussels form dense, destructive colonies that encrust almost any underwater surface. Newly hatched mussels are microscopic and can attach to your watercraft in as little as a day! They can easily be transferred to other waters without boat owners even knowing that these tiny but incredibly destructive mussels have hitched a ride.

The Damage

Destroy fisheries
Pollute shorelines and beaches
Damage boats and equipment
Cost millions to control

The Solution

Clean all plants and mud from your boat, trailer and equipment
Drain: eliminate water from bilges, ballasts, live wells and engines
Dry: allow boat to completely dry before launching in other waters