On the Colorado River near Rifle, a simple clean-drain-dry habit keeps boating great

The Colorado River through Garfield County is one of the great places to boat, paddle, and fish on the Western Slope, and a little awareness keeps it that way. The good news is that protecting it comes down to one easy habit you can do at every ramp: clean, drain, and dry your gear.

Here is why that habit matters. In late 2025, Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed an adult zebra mussel in the Colorado River near Rifle, with more adult mussels found upstream in Glenwood Canyon, and the agency now treats the river as infested along a long stretch of the Western Slope. Zebra and quagga mussels are tiny, but they multiply fast, clog water intakes and pipes, coat boats and docks, and cannot realistically be removed once established. They spread by hitching a ride on boats, trailers, paddleboards, waders, and other wet gear moved from one water body to another.

The response is not to stay away from the river. It is to break the chain. Clean off plants, mud, and debris; drain every bit of standing water from the boat, motor, and gear; and let everything dry before you head to another lake or river. Boats also go through a quick inspection at many ramps, the same friendly checks you will see at the Rifle-area state parks, all aimed at keeping the spread slow.

For current guidance on the Colorado River situation and clean-drain-dry steps, see Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s aquatic nuisance species pages.