2024 Watercraft Regulations - 15

2 0 24 WATERCRAFT REGULATIONS
contacting any waters of this state, unless exempted by (i) or (ii) below.
i.
Any person transporting a conveyance from March 1 through
November 30 that has not been in contact with a suspect water,
positive water or infested water within the past thirty (30) days
and who did not encounter a mandatory aquatic invasive species
check station prior to reaching any of the waters of this state
may launch without inspection if in possession of a seal receipt.
The seal receipt shall be retained while on the water.
ii. Any person transporting a conveyance from December 1 through
the last day of February that has not been in contact with a suspect
water, positive water or infested water within the past thirty
(30) days and who did not encounter a mandatory aquatic invasive
species check station prior to reaching any of the waters of
this state may launch without inspection.
h. As part of all inspections, all compartments, equipment, and containers
that may hold water, including, but not limited to, live wells,
ballast and bilge areas shall be completely drained as directed by
authorized inspectors.
i. A conveyance suspected to contain an aquatic invasive species
shall be decontaminated before said conveyance shall be allowed
to contact any waters of this state.
j. Decontaminations shall be conducted only by those authorized inspectors
that have received additional Department training to conduct
decontaminations and are specifically authorized to do so.
k. Any person operating a conveyance may be ordered to remove the
conveyance from any of the waters of this state or any conveyance
staging area by any peace officer if there is reason to believe the
conveyance may contain aquatic invasive species or was not properly
inspected prior to contacting the water. Once removed from the
water, the conveyance shall be subject to inspection and decontamination
for the removal and disposal of aquatic invasive species.
SECTION 5. IMPOUNDMENT AND QUARANTINE
a. A peace officer may impound and quarantine a conveyance as provided
in W.S. § 23-4-203.
b. If the person in charge of the conveyance is not the registered owner,
the registered owner shall be notified by mail, return receipt requested,
within ten (10) days of the location of the impounded conveyance.
Such notification shall also include contact information for
the peace officer ordering the impoundment. If the registered owner
is present when the conveyance is ordered impounded, then the
same information shall be provided to the registered owner at the
time the impound order is issued.
c. All impounded conveyances shall be held at the risk and expense
of the owner. A conveyance held under impound for non-compliance
with this regulation shall only be released after a peace officer
is satisfied by inspection or quarantine that the conveyance is no
longer a threat to the aquatic resources, water supplies and water
infrastructure of the state.
d. Duration of conveyance quarantine shall be determined by the Department,
shall be sufficient to allow decontamination, and shall not
exceed thirty (30) days.
e. An impounded conveyance shall not be released until a Department
impound release form is signed and executed by a peace officer. It
is the responsibility of the owner to coordinate with the Department
for the release of the conveyance.
SECTION 6. MANDATORY REPORTING OF AQUATIC INVASIVE
SPECIES
a. Any person who knows that an unreported aquatic invasive species
is present at a specific location in Wyoming shall report the aquatic
invasive species presence within forty-eight (48) hours to the Commission,
the Department, or any peace officer and shall provide the
date and time of the detection of the aquatic invasive species, the
exact location of sighting (water body and specific location on the
water body), the suspected species and the name and contact information
of the reporter.
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SECTION 7. AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES PROGRAM DECAL
a. An aquatic invasive species program fee may be assessed as part
of the Department's motorized watercraft registration fee. A current,
properly affixed combination motorized watercraft registration and
Aquatic Invasive Species Program Decal shall be proof of payment
of this fee. Proof of combination decal purchase may be used in
lieu of a properly affixed decal for up to thirty (30) days from date
of purchase.
b. All owners or operators of motorized watercraft registered outside
of Wyoming, any owners or operators of Wyoming registered watercraft
that have not paid the aquatic invasive species program fee
as part of their watercraft registration fee and all owners or operators
of non-motorized watercraft shall purchase an Aquatic Invasive
Species Program Decal valid for the current calendar year prior to
contacting any waters of this state. Purchase of this decal shall be
evidenced by an Aquatic Invasive Species Program Decal properly
affixed to the watercraft. Proof of decal purchase may be used in
lieu of a properly affixed decal for up to thirty (30) days from date of
purchase. For the purpose of this Section, all non-motorized inflatable
watercraft ten (10) feet in length or less, all solid and inflatable
paddleboards regardless of length and all devices defined as water
sport toys are exempt from this decal provision.
c. The price of the decal shall be ten dollars ($10) for motorized watercraft
registered in Wyoming and thirty dollars ($30) for motorized
watercraft registered outside of Wyoming. The price of the decal
shall be five dollars ($5) for non-motorized watercraft owned by a
Wyoming resident and fifteen dollars ($15) for non-motorized watercraft
owned by a nonresident.
i. An Aquatic Invasive Species Program Decal affixed to a motorized
watercraft shall be displayed on the starboard (right) side
of the bow six (6) inches left of and directly in line with the watercraft
registration decal. Decals affixed to non-motorized watercraft
shall be displayed on the bow in a manner such that the
decal is visible when the watercraft is underway. Only the Aquatic
Invasive Species Program Decal which is currently valid shall
be displayed.
ii. In the case of rental watercraft, it shall be the responsibility of the
rental watercraft owner to ensure that a valid Aquatic Invasive
Species Program Decal is properly displayed on the watercraft.
d. Owners of multiple non-motorized watercraft may transfer valid decals
between their own non-motorized watercraft, however, each
non-motorized watercraft shall display a valid decal while contacting
any of the waters of this state.
WYOMING GAME AND FISH COMMISSION
Kenneth Roberts, President
Dated: September 14, 2022
2024 Watercraft Regulations

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2024 Watercraft Regulations
