Ruedi Open for Boating May 1
Ruedi Reservoir boat ramp will open along with watercraft inspection and decontamination for aquatic nuisance species at 8:00 am on Saturday, May 1st. The inspections and decontaminations are required to protect the reservoir from the invasion of destructive species such as zebra and quagga mussels.
Seventeen (17) mussel-infested boats were identified and decontaminated through the Ruedi Boat Inspection Program in 2020, the most found in Colorado, and the most ever intercepted at Ruedi Reservoir, indicating an increasing threat to Colorado waters. Most of the infected boats had come from Lake Powell, which is infested with quagga mussels.
Those interested in helping with this mission can be hired as a watercraft inspector. Colorado Parks and Wildlife are still hiring inspectors for the summer season, May – October, for $18/hour. Please send a resume to invasive.species@co.state.us.
Eagle County public health orders must be followed while recreating in the area. At this time, those orders include staying at home if showing any symptoms of Covid-19, wearing a facecovering while interacting with inspectors or those not in the same family.
Inspectors request patience from the public as protocols and other covid-19 related issues may cause slight increases in inspection and decontamination times. Please adhere to the following
guidance from Colorado Parks and Wildlife when boating in Colorado:
- Wear a mask while at the inspection station and anytime social distance cannot be maintained.
- Wait for the inspector to wave you forward to the inspection station.
- Remain in your vehicle, set the parking brake and turn the vehicle off.
- Stay in your vehicle unless asked to get out and assist the inspector.
- If you have a green seal receipt, please keep your window closed and show it to the inspector through the window glass.
- Follow the inspector’s instructions.
- Always maintain six feet minimum between you and the inspectors.
- Clean surfaces in your boat, on your trailer, and personal items using regular household products.
- Know and follow all local health board guidance.
- Stay home if you are sick and keep your family home if they are sick.
- Follow the guidance from your County, CDC and CDPHE to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
The Ruedi public boat ramp hours for the 2021 season are:
May 1 – May 28: 8 am – 6 pm
May 29 – June 30: 6 am – 8 pm
July 1 – September 6: 6 am – 10 pm
September 7 – October 31: 6 am – 8 pm
For updated information, visit the White River National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/whiteriver/notices/?cid=STELPRDB5176138.
Or Eagle County website: https://www.eaglecounty.us/covid-19/
Due to the increasing threat of mussel invasion from contaminated sources such as Lake Powell, a mandatory boat inspection and decontamination program is in place at Ruedi Reservoir. All
boats entering and leaving the Reservoir must be inspected prior to launch and prior to departure in compliance with state regulations. The boat inspection program at Ruedi is sponsored by the Ruedi Water and Power Authority (RWAPA) in coordination with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the United States Forest Service, and the Bureau of Reclamation. The inspection and decontamination station at Ruedi is operated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The main boat ramp at Ruedi is typically open from early morning to late in the evening, May through October. The ramp is closed to all boat traffic when inspectors are not on site.
Quagga Mussels (Dreissena bugensis) are highly invasive small shellfish. They are native to Eurasia and were inadvertently imported to North America on cargo vessels in late 1980’s. Their ability to reproduce prolifically and attach themselves to any solid surface has made them a significant nuisance in infested areas, damaging infrastructure for municipal, agricultural, and industrial water supplies, and degrading recreational facilities. Aquatic invasive species, such as zebra and quagga mussels, impair natural resources and outdoor recreational opportunities. Colorado is currently free of mussels due to an intensive multi-jurisdictional inspection and decontamination program.
For More Information Contact: April Long, RWAPA, 970-901-6082, april@rwapa.org
