A bill to help prevent the spread of Zebra Mussels in South Dakota lakes passed through the Senate by a 33-1 vote.
The bill requires boaters to clean and drain their boats every time they’re removed from the water.
Mike Greiner is the Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator at the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. He said that several inspection stations are to be created in the state.
"There’s certain ramps on the Missouri River that get high usage during certain months and very low usage during the rest of the year," Greiner said. "So, we try to place the inspection crews at high-use areas and the highest risk areas. So, the locations will change throughout the summertime as those conditions change.”
Greiner said that Zebra Mussels cause over one billion dollars in damages annually in the U.S.
Zebra mussels can cause a foul taste in drinking water and alter aquatic food chains.