SALEM Motorists hauling boats in Oregon are now required to stop at posted watercraft inspection stations to have their boats, paddlecraft and other watercraft inspected for aquatic invasive species.

Inspection stations are operated by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at Ports of Entry, highway rest stops and boat ramps across the state. The sites include La Grande, Central Point, Klamath Falls and Hines.

Failure to stop at an inspection station could result in a $142 fine.

Motorists are alerted to inspections stations by orange Boat Inspection Ahead signs and followed by a white Inspection Required for All Watercraft sign. All vehicles carrying kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, sailboats and any other boats, non-motorized or motorized, are required to stop.

Inspections usually take about 10 minutes if boats are free of aquatic invasive species. If a boat is found to be contaminated with aquatic invasive species such as quagga or zebra mussels, it will be decontaminated on site by the watercraft inspection team with a hot water pressure washer. There is no penalty or cost for the boat owner if their boat is found to be contaminated with invasive species.

Concerns about invasive mussels heightened in May when the invaders were found on three boats: one in Central Point and two in La Grande. All three boats were decontaminated using hot water and high pressure.

The Central Point boat held destructive quagga mussels, and the owner had used the boat in Lake Havasu, Ariz. The two La Grande boats contained zebra mussels; one was moored in Saginaw Bay, Michigan, and the other was a barge used on the Mississippi River system.

Although the quagga and zebra mussels we have found are on boats coming in from out of state, we have plenty of problems within the state, said Rick Boatner, ODFW invasive species coordinator. Both invasive New Zealand mudsnails and Eurasian watermilfoil have infested our waters and are easily spread.