Watercraft Inspection and Boat Launch Areas

Complex Watercraft Complex watercraft include, but are not limited Summer hours are 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Avail- (Yellow Tag) to: houseboats, cabin cruisers, pontoon boats, able inspection stations and ramp hours vary personal watercraft, ski boats, wakeboard by season. Please visit go.nps.gov/mussel for boats, ballast sailboats, and most trailered or current and upcoming hours and the latest Inspections required prior to launch. motorized fshing type boats. information. Inspection required after retrieval. These vessels can launch at any one of four May only launch from concrete boat locations after receiving an inspection: ramps (major launch sites). • Elk Creek • Lake Fork • Iola • Stevens Creek

State Hand Launch List The Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife The hand-launch season pass helps rangers (Green Tag) has identifed the following vessel types as low identify vessels from a distance that are free to risk for carrying invasive species and these ves- launch anywhere. A season pass for this class sels can launch without an inspection from any of vessel is not required, but is encouraged. No inspection required. location on Blue Mesa Reservoir: May launch anywhere. • kayak • canoe Trailers used to transport these vessels may No trailers allowed in water. • foat tube • belly boat not enter the water at any time. If a trailer • sail board • windsurf board must enter the water upon launch or retrieval, • inner tube • raft the vessel must be inspected prior to launch. • Owners of these vessels can receive a season- long launch pass and sticker for their vessel via appointment by calling (970) 209-2335.

Hand Launched Vessels Watercraft not included on the Colorado State containers or compartments that regularly hold Not Included on State List hand launch list may still qualify for an annual water. (Green Tag) hand-launch pass. An assessment of any vessel not specifcally These vessels must be hand-launched (no trail- included on the Colorado State hand launch Assessment required prior to launch. er enters the water during launch or retrieval), list is required. May qualify for annual pass. must not have a gas powered, water-cooled, or electric motor and must not have enclosed

All Other Vessels Capable of This class of watercraft has compartments Pink tag vessels may launch from the following Holding Water (Pink Tag) capable of holding water and are required to locations and trailers may enter the water receive an inspection each time the watercraft after receiving an inspection at the following is launched and retrieved. locations: • Iola beach Inspection required prior to launch. This class of craft includes but is not limited to: • Bay of Chickens Inspection required after retrieval. • “Hobie Cat” style sailboats • Dillon Pinnacles beach May launch at specifed locations. • small to medium sized sailboats • Old Stevens beach In certain locations, trailers may • some rowing shells • North Willow beach enter water. • hand launched vessels that are ftted with • Sapinero beach a gas powered, water-cooled, or electric motor.

Many of these vessels may not be able to safely or practically launch and retrieve at concrete boat ramps; Several specifc areas have been designated to accommodate launching these watercraft, after receiving an inspection.

For More Information For more information on these regulations, On the web: go.nps.gov/mussel inspection station hours, or on the entire By phone: (970) 641-2337 ext 205 Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program By email: [email protected] at Curecanti National Recreation Area, please visit our website, call or email. National Recreation Area National Park Service Curecanti U.S. Department of the Interior