Utah takes quagga mussels seriously, and the state’s AIS (aquatic invasive species) inspection program affects anyone towing a boat or jet ski in Utah. Here is what to expect.

Why it matters

Quagga mussels are established in Lake Powell, the only Utah lake where they’re confirmed. They destroy infrastructure, foul water supplies, and are nearly impossible to remove once they colonize. Utah works hard to keep them from spreading: over the 2026 Pioneer Day weekend alone, inspectors checked 11,864 boats across the state and did 327 decontaminations (Utah DWR (opens in a new tab)).

Where you’ll stop

Utah law says every boat stops at an inspection station that’s open and operating, at the lake or on the road. Stations vary by lake and season, so check DWR’s station map (opens in a new tab) for where they are. Two you’re likely to meet:

• Lake Powell: stop for the exit inspection whenever the station is open; the machine then needs a professional decontamination or the required dry time before it launches anywhere else. Renting from us? Plan to pull out while the inspection station is staffed, and bring our machines back inspected and professionally decontaminated, with the inspection and decontamination paperwork for each machine

• Willard Bay: stop at the station at the state park entrance whenever it’s open (the lake itself is quagga-free)

When a station is closed, the job is still yours: Utah law says you clean and drain your boat before you leave the water. And open station or not, you always tow with every drain plug out.

What happens at the station

Inspectors check your trailer, hull, and ballast tanks (if any) for mussel contamination. For a jet ski coming from an uninfested lake, this takes 5 to 10 minutes. If you’re leaving Lake Powell, plan for the decontamination line too: Utah DWR says (opens in a new tab) weekend waits there can run more than an hour.

How to speed it up

• Pull your drain plug and let everything drip-dry between lakes

• Rinse off vegetation from trailer and jet ski before leaving the previous lake

• Have proof of Utah’s annual boating safety course ready on your phone

The mandatory course

Starting January 1, 2027, Utah requires everyone who operates a motorboat, jet skis included, to complete a boating safety course once every calendar year (HB 54 (opens in a new tab)). It takes under 20 minutes on average and covers life jackets, safe operation and navigation, boating under the influence, and invasive mussels, so it replaces the separate Mussel-Aware Boater Course. Renting from us? Bring proof, or we’ll go through the state’s safety briefing with you at pickup. Utah Outdoor Recreation covers the course, which it calls the Mandatory Watercraft Operator Course, in its boating FAQ (opens in a new tab).

Plan 5 to 10 extra minutes into your drive time for the inspection. See our Rider Resources for the full rundown, or the Lake Powell page for destination-specific notes.