{"content":[{"text":"to handle the inspection and decontamination. I believe we all learned from the incident and we will \n be better able to partner with Utah on boat checks, AIS outreach efforts and improve coordination \n with their AIS people.”","bbox":{"left":0.106176,"top":0.08003,"width":0.7849269999999999,"height":0.055060999999999985}},{"text":"“We’re fortunate that the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources personnel were able to respond and \n assist with this situation,” said Mike Stone, WGFD Chief of Fisheries. “Wyoming currently has \n very few resources available to rapidly respond to aquatic invasive species incidents.”","bbox":{"left":0.106176,"top":0.149727,"width":0.7708519999999999,"height":0.055061}},{"text":"Zebra and quagga mussels are freshwater, bivalve mollusks that typically have a dark and \n white pattern on their shells, hence the name Zebra. They are non-native species, invading North \n America from the Black, Aral and Caspian Seas sometime in the mid 1980s. They are considered \n nuisance or invasive species throughout the country. These species have had tremendous impacts to \n water bodies, recreation and even drinking water supplies in other states, including several states \n that border Wyoming. They have not yet been discovered in any of Wyoming’s waters.","bbox":{"left":0.106176,"top":0.219424,"width":0.7819919999999999,"height":0.10733300000000001}},{"text":"Heavy infestations of these species can alter aquatic environments by reducing food sources \n for game fish. They can clog water intakes on motors, overheating and ruining boat engines. \n Aquatic invasive species can increase the operating costs of drinking water plants, power plants, \n dam maintenance and industrial processes.","bbox":{"left":0.106176,"top":0.341394,"width":0.781059,"height":0.07248400000000005}},{"text":"Game and Fish is working with other state and federal agencies and partner organizations to \n minimize the risk of invasive species reaching Wyoming. The department has launched an AIS \n outreach campaign and held a series of open houses in April to educate water users and update the \n public regarding partnerships and efforts on aquatic invasive species.","bbox":{"left":0.106176,"top":0.428515,"width":0.781025,"height":0.07248500000000002}},{"text":"The Wyoming legislature’s Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee \n is considering aquatic invasive species issues as one of its current interim study topics.","bbox":{"left":0.106176,"top":0.515636,"width":0.779247,"height":0.037636}},{"text":"Research and documentation in other states that have experienced these mussel infestations \n confirm prevention efforts, including outreach, remain the best defense against these aquatic \n invasive species.","bbox":{"left":0.106176,"top":0.567909,"width":0.7749449999999999,"height":0.05506}},{"text":"Anglers, boaters and other recreationists are asked to help prevent the spread of these \n organisms between bodies of water. Before leaving a body of water, but while on dry land, do the \n following: Drain every conceivable space that can hold water, including engines, live wells or \n ballast tanks or even just the inside of your canoe, kayak or raft. Clean any and all equipment by \n removing plants, mud and other debris. Allow all equipment to thoroughly Dry before launching in \n another body of water.","bbox":{"left":0.106176,"top":0.637606,"width":0.779824,"height":0.10733300000000001}},{"text":"For more information, visit the Game and Fish AIS Web site at \n http://gf.state.wy.us/fish/AIS/index.asp or call (307) 777-4600","bbox":{"left":0.106176,"top":0.759575,"width":0.55447,"height":0.03763700000000003}},{"text":"-WGFD-","bbox":{"left":0.46451,"top":0.861773,"width":0.070627,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"2","bbox":{"left":0.885588,"top":0.938269,"width":0.008186000000000027,"height":0.01687700000000003}}],"images_bbox":[],"images_bbox_not_text_overlap":[]}