Inspections Are Required Before Launch

Under Mono and Inyo County ordinances, trailered watercraft* must be inspected before launching.

You may refuse an inspection, but your watercraft will not be permitted to launch at staffed launches, and refusing an inspection may result in fines or other penalties under local law.

More importantly, skipping an inspection puts our waters at risk. Preventing the introduction of golden mussels is critical to protecting the fishing, boating, recreation, and the local economy.

Watercraft Requiring Inspection

All trailered watercraft must be inspected before launching in Mono or Inyo County waters. This includes:

• Motorboats
• Jet skis
• Any watercraft transported on a trailer

*However, there are a few important exceptions. Watercraft should be inspected at a WID station if they:

• Are registered with DMV
• Have a trolling motor or other motor attached
• Were recently used in a known infested waterbody

Wake Sport Ballast Tank Boats: Mandatory Decontamination
Wake sport boats with built-in ballast tanks require mandatory decontamination before launching because their ballast tanks, plumbing, pumps, and other internal systems cannot be visually inspected to verify they are completely dry. These enclosed spaces can retain water that may contain microscopic invasive mussel larvae (veligers), even when the rest of the boat appears dry.

Bishop WID and Crowley Lake Fish Camp have specialized, high-capacity decontamination equipment for wake sport boats with ballast tanks, which cannot be visually inspected to confirm they are fully drained and dry. Wake sport boats planning to launch at Crowley Lake, Grant Lake, or Bridgeport Reservoir should stop at the Bishop WID Station or Crowley Lake Fish Camp.

Other Types of Watercraft

Canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, float tubes, and rafts are generally not required to be inspected.

However, there are a few important exceptions. These watercraft should be inspected at a WID station if they:

• Are registered with DMV
• Have a trolling motor or other motor attached
• Were recently used in a known infested waterbody

Even when an inspection is not required, all watercraft should still follow the Clean, Drain, Dry principle before launching in (or moving between) Mono County waters:

Clean all watercraft and gear of visible plants and mud

Drain all water from equipment

Dry everything thoroughly

More Information
WID station locations, dates, hours, FAQs, and links to other resources. can be found on the public-facing website: EasternSierraWID.com