SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) — In 2021, the first-of-its kind boat decontamination dip tank was installed at Lake Powell to aid in the fight against invasive quagga mussels.
Since then, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources , Clean Wake LLC , and Utah State Parks have installed four more dip tanks across the Beehive State, including the newest instillations at Willard Bay State Park and the Lake Powell Bullfrog Marina.
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How does a dip tank work?
The dip tanks were created in 2021 to provide a faster, more efficient way to decontaminate complex boats to prevent the spread of invasive mussels. It uses a tank, pumphouse, and heating and filtration system and was awarded a patent in the U.S. and Canada the following year, the DWR said.
Rather than requiring people to climb around and under boats to manually spray hot water during inspections and decontaminations, the dip tank allows boaters to back their watercraft on a trailer into the 14-foot wide, 5-foot deep tank of 110 degree water.