Watercraft Inspection Information

Watercraft inspection is free, but mandatory. Watercraft inspection station located at the Main Entrance north off of Hwy 516 is open daily 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM during the following schedule:
April 16-18, 2021
April 23-25, 2021
Seven days a week starting May 1 through mid-October. 

The City of Farmington’s Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs Department, in conjunction with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, will conduct inspections on non-motorized watercraft for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), Zebra and Quagga Mussels. 

Quagga and Zebra mussels threaten our ability to  maintain a safe, reliable and economically sustainable supply of fresh water. This impacts our industries, agriculture, domestic drinking water, power production, fish, wildlife, and recreation in North America. 

Any watercraft having been in infested waters has the potential to carry invasive mussels. These mussels, and other invasive species, can spread to new waterbodies by attaching to boats, aquatic plants, bail buckets, and other aquatic recreational equipment that touches infested waters. An adult female Zebra mussel can release up to a million eggs in a year. Once established, they are impossible to remove. 

The spread of aquatic invasive species can be prevented by using this simple checklist every time you exit a waterbody. 

CLEAN: 
Inspect and clean off all mud, plant, and animal material from boats, trailers, boots, gear, and equipment. 
DRAIN: 
Pull the plug and drain all water from watercraft and equipment.
DRY:
Dry all parts of a watercraft and equipment completely before  entering a new body of water. 

Be sure to dispose of debris and live bait in trash.  Never dump live fish or other organisms into a body of water unless it came from that waterbody.