By Jade Bansen
 
November 24, 2009
 
NEAR WHITE CITY, Ore. - Boaters in Oregon will need to pay for an additional permit beginning January 1st, 2010
 
The extra five-dollar Aquatic Invasive Species Permit will fund prevention and control programs and is required for manually powered boaters and sail boats 10-feet or larger.
 
Biologist say destructive invaders such as the quagga and zebra mussel are spreading across the nation degrading water quality and depleting fish populations.
 
"Anybody that has a boat, that's a non-necessity item for living, it's pleasure... If they can afford a boat they can afford another five-dollars in fees," Boater Robert Furry said.
 
The new program will be maintained by the Oregon State Marine Board and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.