Clean, Drain And Dry

Bobbie Bicknell Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

THE RESERVE, Idaho, June 29, 2013.  Bear Lake Watch Annual Meeting,  New Director of Wildlife Resources Greg Sheehan, is a member of Bear Lake Watch and he is also a Bear Laker with a cabin at Lockwood.  Wildlife Resources wants to protect the lake for endemic species and for the beauty of the lake.  They have been trying to keep Quagga mussels out of Utah, but Quaggas have now appeared in Lake Powell.  There are two large natural fresh water lakes, Utah and Bear Lake, which are waterways that are not easily cured because they cannot be drained. 

Sheehan said, “ Hopefully the billboards and ad campaign of Clean, Drain and Dry will make people aware of the part they play in saving our lakes.  If a Quagga is in the engine and it is drained at the lake you the lake could be infected.

Wildlife Resources work closely with three agencies that partner in Utah and Idaho  Idaho sells a stamp to fund their program.  Utah tripled the amount of money spent at Bear Lake.  Representative Rhonda Menlove sponsored a bill to limit the amount of launching sites.  Ideally, every boat should be inspected, but that is problematic during high season, and there can still be infected water in engines that cannot be seen.

Sheehan said, “We will focus on more education and tell people to clean and drain and dry their boats at home before coming.  Leaving Lake Powell, it is required that the boat be power washed or left  out of the water for at least 18 days.  The Quagga will die in 5 days in this heat but can last as long as 18 days.  Lake Mead got encrusted by the mussels in only three years.

 If you go to a lake that is contaminated go to a decontamination center.  They will do it at Bear Lake Marina.