The annual boat inspection program on Lake Whatcom and Lake Samish is about to launch its 10th year with the aim of keeping the lakes free of invasive mussels, clams and vegetation.
Inspection stations open Saturday morning, April 23 at Bloedel Donovan Park on Lake Whatcom and the Lake Samish launch on East Lake Samish Drive. A new crop of inspectors in training this week will be busy on that first day with a bass fishing tournament on Lake Whatcom, said Teagan Ward, Bellingham’s aquatic invasive species coordinator.
Inspection stations at the South Bay and Sudden Valley launches on Lake Whatcom open April 30. Inspectors will also come to private residences by appointment.
Boat owners are asked to prepare for inspections by cleaning, draining and drying vessels in advance, and removing gear from internal compartments.
This year, COVID-19 restrictions are being eased, Ward said. Boaters may once again purchase season permits or short-term passes at the inspection station, where staff will only accept credit or debit cards for payment. The $10 COVID-19 discount for season passes is still in effect, whether purchasing online or at the launch. The passes with the discount are $50 for larger, registered watercraft and $20 for smaller, unregistered boats. No fee is required for canoes, kayaks and rowboats, but these craft must still be inspected.
Bellingham, Whatcom County and the Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District manage the inspection program primarily to keep zebra and quagga mussels out of Whatcom County lakes. Inspectors pay special attention to vessels purchased out of state or those recently used in water bodies such as Lake Havasu and Lake Powell that are known to contain invasive shellfish.
So far, no zebra or quagga mussels have been found in fresh water in Washington state. Both species of small, fingernail-sized mollusk establish themselves quickly in new environments and grow so densely they can do costly damage to water intakes, boats and docks, and they can kill off native species.
For more information about the invasive species inspection program, visit whatcomboatinspections.com.
