ANS fact sheet

ANS fact sheet

The State Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Act was signed into law May 2008. The Act defines ANS as exotic or nonnative aquatic wildlife or any plant species that have been determined to pose a significant threat to the aquatic resources or water infrastructure of the state. The Parks Board passed regulations required by the Act on February 20, 2009 and updated them since that time. The regulations require mandatory watercraft inspection, and if necessary, decontamination of all boats coming from out of state, leaving waters with known ANS and boats entering high-risk waters where inspections are required by the managing entity. The focus of the program is to prevent zebra and quagga mussels and other ANS from infesting Colorado’s water resources and threatening our water storage and distribution systems for municipal, industrial and agricultural use. The Colorado ANS Program is highly effective and a model which other states across the nation are learning from.

Colorado Parks & Wildlife

Aquatic nuisance species

ANS

Boating

Inspections

Zebra mussels

Quagga mussels

2 pages

2020-01

Fact Sheet

application/pdf

English

Colorado Parks and Wildlife