Colorado Parks and Wildlife is continuing its fight to prevent Aquatic Nuisance Species from spreading in the state's lakes and reservoirs.

This year, CPW is adding new gear and watercraft cleaning stations across the state to aid in its prevention efforts.

Five of those stations will be placed in Northwest Colorado:

"As the challenge of protecting the state's waters and infrastructure from aquatic nuisance species continues to grow, CPW is leading the charge against these destructive species," said Robert Walters, CPW's ANS program manager, in a news release. "As the spring season approaches, we ask for help from both the boating and water-based recreation communities to combat invasive species in the state."

In 2021, CPW was authorized to implement its pilot roadside watercraft inspection program. The program was successful enough to launch it long-term in 2024 where ANS inspectors conducted 463,710 inspections, decontaminating 32,584 boats suspected of carrying ANS.

Some 110 boats were found carrying invasive mussels across the state last year. Mussels have the ability to cause serious damage to a reservoir infrastructure.

"Mussels aren't going away," Walters said in the release. "However, by continuing our preventative watercraft inspection program Colorado can continue to set an example in the West and keep our waters clear of highly destructive invasive species."

Contaminated boats typically enter Colorado from neighboring states, especially Utah; Arizona; Kansas; Nebraska; Oklahoma; Texas and South Dakota.

Boats are not the only source of ANS entering the state, however. Any equipment that gets wet, such as waders and boots, can also carry ANS.

All boats and equipment should be cleaned, drained and dried after every use in a body of water. Boats should utilize the green-seal program and all ballast boats must have a green seal between launches or decontamination may take place prior to launching.

Boaters are encouraged to inspect their trailers and inspect all areas of their boats and engines for mussels. Boats used in waters outside Colorado should be alerted to inspectors.

Colorado requires boats to be professionally inspected if:

To encourage a quick inspection process, boaters should:

For more information about CPW's ANS program and the boat inspection process, visit CPW.State.co.us/activities/boat-inspections.