News Release

Yellowstone reminds boaters and anglers to clean, drain and dry; Help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and protect park waters

Ranger performs a Yellowstone AIS inspection at Bridge Bay

NPS / Jacob W. Frank

News Release Date: May 27, 2021

Contact: Morgan Warthin, [phone]

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY - Yellowstone National Park encourages the public to get ready for boating and fishing season, which begins Saturday, May 29, 2021. Boaters and anglers should clean, drain and dry all boats and equipment prior to arriving in the park to minimize the risk of introducing aquatic invasive species (AIS) into Yellowstone’s waters. Watercraft equipped with sealed internal ballast tanks are banned from all park waters as inspections cannot always detect aquatic invaders in these types of boats.

Clean, drain and dry

Boaters and anglers, ensure you do not transport AIS to the park by:
 

• Cleaning all plants, animals, mud, sand and other debris from your boat, anchor, boots and equipment. Use high-pressure, hot (120-140F) water if possible. Felt-soled footwear are banned because they can carry microscopic disease organisms even after cleaning.
• Draining all water from your boat, including the motor, bilge, livewell and other compartments before you arrive. Leave drain plugs out during transport. Do not move water or organisms from one water body into another.
• Drying all compartments and equipment in the sun for five days.

Clean, drain and dry requirements are necessary steps to protect the park’s and nation’s waterways. AIS pose a grave and growing threat to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and surrounding economies. AIS can quickly and drastically transform habitats and food webs, causing permanent declines in sport fish and food resources for native wildlife.

AIS like nonnative quagga and zebra mussels have caused costly, irreversible damage to waterways in the Midwestern and eastern United States and in the Colorado River drainage, including Lake Mead and Lake Powell. If these nonnative mussels are found in Yellowstone, park waters may close to all watercraft to prevent the spread to other waterways. People are encouraged to report violations and potential discoveries of AIS. The park will continue efforts to develop an AIS Management Plan and Rapid Response Framework in collaboration with the surrounding states.

Permits and inspections

Watercraft and angler float tubes must have a permit and a Yellowstone AIS inspection prior to launching in park waters. Permits and inspections are available for purchase 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. seven days per week during the summer season at the following locations:

Motorized and non-motorized watercraft (including angler float tubes)
 

• Bridge Bay Ranger Station
• Grant Village Backcountry Office
• Lewis Lake Ranger Station

Angler float tubes only
 

• West Yellowstone Visitor Information Center
• Bechler Ranger Station
• North Entrance
• Northeast Entrance

Yellowstone fishing permits can be purchased at in-park stores, vendors in surrounding communities or online via Recreation.gov.

Read more about boating, fishing and AIS on the park’s website.