Boats at Ruedi Reservoir get inspected for invasive species

Ruedi Reservoir sits in the White River National Forest, east of Basalt, and is a popular place for boating, fishing, and ice fishing. If you plan to bring a boat, there is one step you cannot skip.

Colorado checks boats for aquatic nuisance species, such as zebra and quagga mussels. These tiny invaders hitch a ride on hulls, trailers, and in water left inside the boat, and once a lake is infested they are nearly impossible to remove. To keep them out of Ruedi, all boats entering the reservoir must pass an inspection at the boat ramp before they go in the water, and boats are inspected again when they come out. When inspectors are not on site, the ramp is closed, so you cannot launch outside inspection hours. Colorado Parks and Wildlife oversees boat inspections statewide.

For boaters this means a little planning. Arrive with a boat that is clean, drained, and dry, build in time for the inspection at both ends of your day, and check the inspection station’s operating hours before you tow so you are not stuck at a closed ramp.

Inspection hours and rules can change by season, so check the White River National Forest page for Ruedi Reservoir and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife boat inspection information before you go.