ODFW checking for invasive species in Ontario, Umatilla, and more
By Logan Bagett on Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
EASTERN OREGON — If you’re coming into Eastern Oregon from out-of-state with your watercraft, don’t try to mussel your way through without stopping at an invasive species checkpoint. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife have several of these checkpoints throughout the state, including the one off of I-84 at the Ontario Rest Area.
Recently, at the Boat Inspection Station in Ashland, officials found invasive quagga mussels on a boat that was reportedly coming from Lake Havasu, AZ. In an ODFW release, Invasive Species Coordinator Keith DeHart said, “Invasive freshwater mussels like quagga mussels can do real damage to Oregon’s lakes, rivers, and water infrastructure.”
Anyone who finds invasive quagga mussels attached to their watercraft is asked to visit https://oregoninvasiveshotline.org, or call the Oregon Invasive Species hotline at 1-866-INVADER.
The inspection station in Ontario is open during daylight hours nearly every day of the year. In addition, seasonal inspection stations are located at Owyhee Reservoir and in Umatilla.
Find the full press release from ODFW below:
(From the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife)
ODFW staff at the Ashland Boat Inspection Station found quagga mussels on a motorboat that was being transported from Lake Havasu, Arizona into Oregon on March 21.
This was the first instance in 2026 where crews found invasive freshwater mussels on a boat entering Oregon. The watercraft was decontaminated at the inspection station and all quagga mussels attached to the boat were properly disposed.
“Invasive freshwater mussels like quagga mussels can do real damage to Oregon’s lakes, rivers, and water infrastructure,” said Keith DeHart, ODFW Invasive Species Coordinator. “Oregon is worth protecting so always clean, drain and dry your boat before transporting it.”
It is the law in Oregon that any vehicle transporting a watercraft is required to stop at all open watercraft inspection stations for aquatic invasive species inspections.
Watercraft owners should be aware of where inspections stations are located around Oregon. Stations are open if orange, “Boat Inspection Ahead,” signs are posted, followed by “Inspection Required for All Watercraft.”
Visit MyODFW.com for more information about the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program and Waterway Access permits: https://myodfw.com/articles/waterway-access-and-aquatic-invasive-species-permits
ODFW has not detected invasive freshwater mussels in any of Oregon’s waterways thanks to responsible boaters and inspection station crews. However, Oregon is still at risk of an invasion. In 2025 crews decontaminated 12 watercraft carrying invasive freshwater mussels and intercepted an additional 295 watercraft for other types of aquatic biofouling such as Eurasian Watermilfoil.
Since the start of the Watercraft Inspection Stations program in 2010, ODFW has inspected 246,748 watercraft and intercepted 185 watercrafts with invasive freshwater mussels and 3,758 watercrafts with other types of aquatic biofouling.
Inspection station locations and operating hours:
Ashland: I-5 at the Ashland Port of Entry. Open daily, year-round, during daylight hours.
Ontario: I-84 at the Ontario Rest Area. Open daily, year-round, during daylight hours.
Seasonal inspection stations located in Brookings, Klamath Falls, Umatilla, and at Owyhee Reservoir will be opening the first week of May. ODFW will also have roving inspection crews working boat ramps and other access points around the state this year.
If you find invasive freshwater mussels on a vessel, please help protect Oregon and report them to the Oregon Invasive Species hotline by calling 1-866-INVADER or visiting https://oregoninvasiveshotline.org.
