Idaho Invasive Species Fund (IISF) FAQ's
Q. Who can I contact with additional questions regarding the IISF program?
A. The Idaho Department of Agriculture manages the IISF program.
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 other motorized vessels, and $5 per non-motorized vessel. Discounts for non-motorized commercial fleets are available. Beginning in 2010, the $10 fee will be part of the annual registration fee for in-state registrations.
Q. I live in Washington and intend to run an Idaho River. Do I need to buy a IISF sticker?
A. Yes. All non-motorized vessels are required to purchase IISF stickers to launch and operate on Idaho waterways. The cost is $5 per vessel.
Q. Do wakeboards, kite boards, or sailboards need to have the sticker?
A. Wakeboards and kite boards will not need to have the sticker. Sailboards are considered vessels and are required to have the sticker. Sailboards would include any board used for wind surfing.
Q. When does this new sticker take effect?
A. Immediately. Stickers are available for purchase through the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation online or by mail.
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 are available for purchase through the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation online or by mail.
Q. Where can I purchase the sticker?
A. Stickers are available for purchase by mail or online, using a secure application and payment portal. Additionally, stickers can be obtained at any Idaho State Park or regional service center (Boise, Idaho Falls and Coeur d' ALene).
Q. If I launch my boat outside of Idaho do I need to have a sticker on my boat?
A. If your boat is launched in Washington, Oregon, or another state, and thereafter enters Idaho waters, you are not required to have the sticker. Stickers are only required on boats that launch in Idaho waters.
Q. Is this a separate sticker from my boat registration sticker?
A. No. Beginning with 2010, the $10 IISF sticker fee has already been included in your annual registration fee, so your registration sticker will also be your invasive species sticker if you register in Idaho.
Q. Does a nonresident boater have to purchase this sticker?
A. Yes. The fee is $20 for motorized boaters who's vessels are registered outside the state of Idaho and $5 for non-motorized boaters.
Q. Will I have to purchase this sticker or pay this fee 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 nonrigid 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 non-motorized fleet. How does the prorated group rate for these sticker work?
A. Prorated group rates for commercial outfitters with non-motorized 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.
Idaho Statute Title 36 Chapter 21 defines an "outfitter" as follows
"Outfitter" includes any person who, while engaging in any of the acts enumerated herein in any manner: (1) advertises or otherwise holds himself out to the public for hire; (2) provides facilities and services for consideration; and (3) maintains, leases, or otherwise uses equipment or accommodations for compensation for the conduct of outdoor recreational activities limited to the following: hunting animals or birds; float or power boating on Idaho rivers and streams; fishing on Idaho lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams; and hazardous desert or mountain excursions. Any firm, partnership, corporation or other organization or combination thereof operating as an outfitter shall designate one (1) or more individuals as agents who shall, together with the licensed outfitter, be held responsible for the conduct of the licensed outfitter's operations and who shall meet all of the qualifications of a licensed outfitter.
Q. I am a commercial outfitter with a non-motorized fleet. Where can I purchase my stickers?
A. Commercial outfitters, as defined above, can purchase stickers at a discounted rate by mail only, using a special outfitter sticker order form.