New boating rules are being implemented this year in Yellowstone National Park. Park officials say there will be a temporary ban of watercraft equipped with sealed internal ballast tanks on all park waters. These tanks can be filled with water to produce specific wakes for waterskiing and wakeboarding; neither of which is allowed in the park.
Boaters and anglers should clean, drain, and dry all equipment prior to arriving in the park to minimize the risk of introducing aquatic invasive species into Yellowstone’s waters. The regular clean, drain, and dry requirements and this temporary boat ban are necessary steps to protect the park and waterways in the states of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.
Aquatic invasive species pose a grave and growing threat to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and surrounding economies. They can quickly and drastically alter habitats and food webs, causing permanent declines in sport fish and food resources for native wildlife. Dreissenid mussels have already caused irreversible changes to waterways in the Midwestern and eastern United States and in the Colorado River drainage including Lake Mead and Lake Powell. If nonnative mussels are found in Yellowstone, park officials say the park waters may have to be closed to all watercraft to prevent the spread to other waterways.
Boating season in Yellowstone begin May 25th.
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