JACKSON HOLE, WYO – Memorial Day is nearly here and for many that means getting outdoors for a three-day weekend. It might be a little too early for some to be thinking about hitting the lake, but if your plans do include water, Game & Fish officials are asking boaters to be aware of aquatic invasives.
With the warmer days and the ice now off most area lakes, the 2017 boating season has commenced in Jackson Hole and Star Valley. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) check stations are up and running for the summer season. Wyoming state law requires all watercraft entering the state by land from March 1 through November 30 to be inspected for AIS before launching in a water of the state.
Check station locations in Star Valley include the Salt Pass check station on Highway 89 south of Afton/Smoot, which will run 8am to 6pm Thursday through Sunday. The check station located at the Port of Entry on Highway 26 in Alpine will run 7am to 5pm Monday through Wednesday and 7am to 7pm Thursday through Sunday.
Check stations at the Moose and Moran entrances of Grand Teton National Park will be operated seven days a week by the National Park Service.
Boaters can also stop by the Game & Fish regional office in Jackson (420 North Cache St.) to receive an inspection. A check station on Highway 22 at the top of Teton Pass will also begin operation as the summer gets under way.
Boaters are reminded that all watercraft must have a valid 2017 AIS decal before launching on Wyoming waters.
