Aquatic invasive species watercraft check stations in the Sheridan Region will begin operating with reduced hours as daylight hours wane.
The check station in Sheridan at the Travel and Tourism Rest Area on 5th Street is currently open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Beginning Oct. 2, the station will be open Thursdays through Sundays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Inspections outside open hours can be scheduled by calling the Game and Fish Regional Office at 307-672-7418 to make an appointment.
The check stations at Keyhole Reservoir - at Keyhole State Park Headquarters and Paradise Foods in Pine Haven - will operate with variable hours. Therefore, it is important that watercraft owners entering Wyoming and intending to launch on the reservoir make plans ahead of time to ensure their watercraft is inspected prior to launching. Boaters can call the Sheridan Regional Office to inquire about open hours at the reservoir, or they can get their watercraft inspected at Beulah, Newcastle or another check station prior to arriving at Keyhole Reservoir.
The check station in Newcastle, one half mile east of the junction of U.S. Highways 16 and 85, is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily for the month of October.
The check station at the Northeast Wyoming Visitor Center on I-90 near Beulah is open seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the month of October.
The check station at Lake DeSmet is closed for the season. Boaters entering Wyoming and intending to launch on the lake must get their watercraft inspected at the Sheridan Rest Area, the Sheridan Regional Office,or at another inspection location prior to launching.
Wyoming law requires any watercraft entering the state from March 1 through Nov. 30 each year to be inspected for AIS before launching in Wyoming. Boaters can utilize private inspectors and certified inspection locations. If you will not encounter an open check station on your route, please contact the Sheridan Regional Office to make arrangements for an inspection
Watercraft last used on a water known to have invasive zebra or quagga mussels, must be inspected before launching in Wyoming during all months of the year.
