Devastating non-native critters such as zebra mussels are being detected in places like Montana for the first time, and fisheries supervisor Todd Koel can see the writing on the wall.

“We’ve had positive hits in the Missouri [River], in the Great Falls area,” Koel said during an April meeting. “For us, that’s local. It’s a few hours away. We’re pretty worried about it.

“We’re trying to keep it out of the Columbia River Basin, too,” he said. “If they were introduced to Yellowstone Lake, Lewis Lake is just miles away. We don’t want to be known as the park that allowed zebra mussels to enter the Columbia Basin.”

Updated regulations and management plans for aquatic invasive species control in Yellowstone were announced last week.

The intention of the boat launch barriers is to prevent uninspected boats from entering Yellowstone lakes in the early morning and evening hours — times when check stations and entry points are not staffed.

In the event of a non-native mussel detection anywhere in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, officials will now consider a temporary closure of all Yellowstone waters to watercraft, both motorized and hand-propelled. A rapid response plan is also in the works, as is a science panel that will evaluate aquatic invasive prevention and management.

Yellowstone rules require that all watercraft — power boats, sailboats, canoes, kayaks and angler float tubes — be inspected prior to hitting the water. Permits and inspections are available seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at various entry points and visitor centers.

Boater registration data suggests that the majority of vessels using Yellowstone waters are coming from Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, where aquatic invasive species are relatively under control. But a fraction of the approximately 4,000 vessels a year are from farther reaches.

“Several [boats] come from the South, where there are definitely a lot of AIS threats,” Koel said. “There were 40 boats from Florida last year that came to Yellowstone.”

Yellowstone lacks the necessary resources to decontaminate boats entering the park from high-risk states. The park uses Hotsy high-temperature pressure washers to make sure that vegetation, animals and debris are removed from boats before they arrive at boat launches.

Currently the park has two Hotsy decontamination devices. They’re stationed at the South Entrance and Bridge Bay area, Koel said.

“We need about six,” he said.