Idaho Invasive Species Fund (IISF) FAQ's
Q. Who can I contact with questions specific to the IISF sticker?
A. The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation 1-800-247-6332
Q. Who can I contact with additional questions regarding the IISF program?
A. The Idaho Department of Agriculture manages the IISF program.
1-877-336-8676
Q. What kind of vessels need to have the sticker?
A. Any boat that is registered in Idaho or another state, and any non-motorized vessel (canoe, kayak, raft, drift boat, etc.) need to have the sticker. Inflatable non-motorized vessels must be less than 10 feet in length to be exempted from this requirement.
Q. Why are boaters being asked to help fund invasive species prevention?
A. Aquatic invasive species seriously impact waterbodies. Species like the quagga mussel “hitchhike” from one body of water to the next, primarily on boats.
Q. What else can I do to help?
A. Proper cleaning and drying of boats and all equipment that may have come into contact with the water is the most important step boaters can take to prevent inadvertently spreading invasive species.
Q. Are government agencies exempt from purchasing this sticker?
A. No. The new law does not provide any exemption for government agencies.
Q. Why are quagga mussels such a threat? And why is prevention so important?
A. These species live for several days out of water, they reproduce quickly, clog pipes, foul infrastructure and damage recreational equipment. They do not occur in Idaho, but once they are introduced, eradication will be impossible. The quagga will upset the food chain by consuming phytoplankton that other species need to survive. They are filter feeders that consume large portions of the microscopic plants and animals that form the base of the food web. Their consumption of significant amounts of phytoplankton from the water decreases zooplankton and can cause a shift in native species and a disruption of the ecological balance of entire bodies of water. In addition, they can displace native species, further upsetting the natural food web.
Q. What if I do not purchase the IISF Sticker?
A. Boating on the waters of the State of Idaho without displaying the required Invasive Species Sticker will be a violation of Idaho Code Chapter 70, Title 67, Section 67-7008(A) , which has a fixed penalty of $57.00. A law enforcement officer could issue the operator/owner of the vessel a Uniform Citation for violation of this law. The operator/owner would have three options if issued a citation for violation of this section; mail the citation to the County Court or Clerk’s Office with the required $57.00, stop at the County Court Clerk’s Office and pay the $57.00 in person, or appear in County Magistrate Court and plead not guilty, requesting a Court Trial.
Q. What is a Quagga Mussel and how is it affecting our waters?
A. Quagga mussels (Dreissena bugensis) and zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are small, freshwater bi-valve mollusks (relatives to clams and oysters) that are triangular in shape with black (or dark brown) and white (or cream) striped markings that appear on its shell. They are the only freshwater mussel in the United States that attaches to hard surfaces. These non-native mussels are not in Idaho. Western populations have been detected in NV, CA, AZ, CO and UT in the last 2 years. Click here to learn more...
Q. How much is the new sticker?
A. Sticker prices are as follows: $10 for motorized vessels registered in Idaho, $20 for vessels registered outside the state of Idaho, and $5 per non-motorized vessel over 10 feet. Discounts for non-motorized commercial fleets are available.
Q. When does this new sticker take effect?
A. Once stickers are available for sale in Late April.
Q. Why do I have to purchase this additional sticker?
A. To assist in funding the prevention of invasive aquatic species within the state of Idaho, most commonly transferred and introduced by boats (motorized and non-motorized).
Q. What will the fees cover?
A. The fees generated from the sale of IISF stickers will fund vessel inspections, washing stations and informational materials that will assist Idaho with preventing the introduction of aquatic invasive species like quagga mussels.
Q. When can I purchase the sticker?
A. Stickers will be made available for purchase late April, 2009.
Q. Where can I purchase the sticker?
A. Stickers will be available for purchase by mail or online, using a secure application and payment portal available on this website late April, 2009.
Q. Is this a separate sticker from my boat registration sticker?
A. Yes.
Q. Does a nonresident boater have to purchase this sticker?
A. Yes. The fee is $20 for boaters who's vessels are registered outside the state of Idaho.
Q. Will I have to purchase this additional sticker every year?
A. Yes.
Q. If I have to pay an additional $10 for the new IISF sticker, where is my boat registration fee money going?
A. Boat registration fees in Idaho fund marine law enforcement and waterway projects. Click here to learn more. For additional information on county boating programs, including financial information, click here.
Q. Where do I place the sticker on my boat?
A
. For registered boats, the sticker can be placed right next to the current year validation sticker on the port (left) side. For canoes, kayaks and other small rigid boats, the sticker can be placed near the bow of the boat above the waterline on the port (left) side, or on top of the vessel if there is little or no waterline.
Q. Where do the stickers get attached on non-rigid boats such as inflatable rafts?
A. Stickers can be slit with a knife and attached to the vessel with a zip tie, plastic attachment, or other similar mechanism. You may want to put a backing of some type on the sticker to prevent it from tearing before slitting. You may also want to consider having the sticker laminated into a hang tag or attaching the sticker to a sturdy placard before attaching it to the vessel.
Q. Will a duplicate sticker be available if I lose my current sticker?
A. Duplicate stickers are not available and a new sticker will need to be purchased if you lose it.
Q. I am a commercial outfitter with a nonmotorized fleet. How does the prorated group rate for these sticker work?
A. Prorated group rates for commercial outfitters with nonmotorized fleets exceeding five vessels are available. The prorated group rate is as follows:
- 1-5 vessels $5 for each vessel
- 6-10 vessels $30
- 11-20 vessels $55
- 21 or more vessels $100
As an outfitter you will need to determine how many vessels you have at the time of the initial prorated group rate sticker purchase. Any subsequent vessels not included in the initial purchase of the prorated group rate cannot be included after-the-fact and a separate sticker will need to be purchased.
For example, if an outfitter has 30 vessels the prorated group rate is $100. The outfitter will only receive 30 stickers at the time of purchase. If the outfitter adds two vessels at a later date, the outfitter will need to pay an additional $5 per sticker for each of these vessels.