Nevada’s AIS Program

Program Status

and

Laws & Regulations

Karen Vargas

Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator

kvargas@ndow.org

Nevada Department of Wildlife

Northern Pike, Comins Lake, NV

Program Goal

Prevent New Introductions and/or Spread of AIS in

Nevada’s Waters

Curly Leaf

Pondweed

Silver Carp

Bighead Carp Zebra Mussels

AIS Species We Don’t Want Introduced

in Nevada

Snakehead

AIS Species in Nevada

Preventing the Spread

Didymo

(rock snot)

Eurasian

Milfoil

New Zealand Mud Snails

Asian Clams

Present in Lakes Mead & Mohave

*Quagga Veligers (Larvae)

detected at Lahontan & Rye Patch Reservoirs April 2011

Largest Threat of Spread & Economic Damage In

Nevada?

Quagga Mussels

Illustration edited by Karen Vargas, NDOW

Rye Patch Quagga Larvae

Lahontan Quagga Larvae

NZMS

Passed Legislature and Signed by Governor in 2011

Bill Included

Penalties for Introducing AIS into Nevada’s Waters

Authority for Watercraft Inspection & Decontamination

Provides for an Annual AIS “Decal” Fee

for Motorized and Non-Motorized Watercraft

Regulatory Authority Assembly Bill 167:

Nevada’s Aquatic Invasive Species Bill

NAC 503.110: Older Regulation that is still active

Illegal to import, transport or posses live quagga/zebra

mussels

NRS 503.597(1): New Law (AB167)

“…It is unlawful…for any person at anytime to receive, bring

or have brought or shipped into this State, or remove from

one stream or body of water…to any other, or from one

portion of the State or any other, or to any other state, any

aquatic life of wildlife, or any spawn, eggs or young of any of

them”

Note: AB167 doesn’t state alive or dead

Nevada Laws and Regulations

NRS 503.597(5)

“A person who knowingly or intentionally introduces, causes to be introduced or attempts to introduce an

aquatic invasive species or

injurious aquatic species into any waters of this State is guilty of:

1st Offense: Misdemeanor Charge

Penalty: ~$1,000

Subsequent Offense: Category E Felony

Penalty: $25,000 to $250,000

Nevada Laws and Regulations (continue)

AIS (NRS 503.597) detrimental to aquatic life, water resources or infrastructure for providing water

Injurious IS: threat to sensitive, threatened or endangered aquatic species or game fish or there habitat

AIS/Injurious IS Species List currently being approved by State Legislative Committee

List includes: • Quagga/Zebra & Golden Mussels

• New Zealand Mud Snails

• Various Fish Species: Piranhas,

Northern Pike, Silver/Big Head Carp

• Rusty/Australian Red Claw Crayfish

• + others

Nevada Laws and Regulations

(continue)

What is an Aquatic & Injurious Invasive Species?

All vessels must comply with Department

approved inspection stations (NRS 488.530)

Decontamination is required when vessels

leave an “impaired body of water” and launch into

another body of water in this State

Impaired Body of Water TBD

by NDOW

Nevada Laws and Regulations (continue)

Inspection, Decontamination &

Impaired Body of Water

Decontamination (Regulation) Includes:

Inspection of Vessel & Conveyances

Remove and Kill all aquatic invasive species (plant and animal)

INSPECT, CLEAN AND DRY each item on the vessel

Drain all water from the vessel: at or reasonably near the site of take-

out including ballast tanks, bilge, live well, outboard units

Wash the vessel and conveyance with high-pressure hot water; and

Allow the vessel or item to dry for a period recommended by the Drying

time Estimator of the 100th Meridian Initiative:

https://www.100thmeridian.org/

Or decontaminate the vessel at an inspection station using any

method approved by the Department.

Nevada Laws and Regulations (continue)

Decontamination

Required on all vessels (watercraft) that operate on Nevada’s Waters (including interstate waters) that are capable of retaining water (NRS 488.536)

Fee Structure (Annual Fee)

Resident Non-Motorized Vessels: $5.00

kayaks, canoes, non-motorized sailboats

Non-Resident Non-Motorized Vessels: $10.00

Resident Motorized Vessels: $10.00

Personal watercraft & motorboats

Non-Resident Motorized Vessels $20.00

Implementation of Sticker

January 1st, 2013

Available: 866.703.4605-toll free,

NDOW offices or ndowlicensing.com

Nevada Laws & Regulations (continue)

Nevada AIS Decal

Can’t transport, posses or introduce aquatic/injurious invasive species: Dead or Alive Aquatic/Injurious AIS Species are defined

Violations range from Misdemeanor to Felony Charge

Decontamination is required when leaving an impaired body of water and before launching into another body of water. Decontamination is defined

Impaired body of water being defined

An Aquatic Invasive Species Decal will be required on most vessels (watercraft) that are capable of retaining water and that operate on Nevada’s waters (Jan. 1, 2013) Including interstate waters

All motorized watercraft

Non-motorized watercraft: canoes, kayaks, sailboats • Exceptions: inner tubes, float tubes, paddleboards

Recap of Nevada’s Laws and Regulations