Boaters urged to beware of mussel invasion
As the days grow longer and warmer and our lakes and reservoirs start to thaw, many Utahans begin to dream of breaking the boat out of storage and enjoying an afternoon of fishing or water-sports.
Before the boating season kick starts, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources would like to ask for the public’s assistance in keeping aquatic hitchhikers out of Utah. The species of concern are the quagga and zebra mussel, which look much alike. Both species are freshwater, bi-valve mollusks (a clam-like shellfish with two matching shell halves), showing a dark and white (zebra-like) pattern on their shells. When they’re fully-grown, they’re only about the size of your thumbnail, but their young, called veligers, are microscopic in size. Once attached to the hull of a boat, these invaders can live for several days or even weeks outside of water and be spread into new areas when the boat owner fails to properly decontaminate his boat before launching in a new lake.
Quagga and zebra mussels aren’t native to North America. They first found their way to the Great Lakes area in the ballasts of trans-oceanic ships during the mid 1980s. Since their introduction, they have spread widely across the Midwest and eastern states, creating a wake of destruction everywhere they go.
Western states have observed the damage from a distance hoping that somehow these troublesome mussels would never reach western waters. Unfortunately, in January of 2007, quagga mussels were found in Lake Mead and all of the waters of the lower Colorado River drainage, including Lakes Mohave and Havasu. In recent months, zebra mussels were discovered in Colorado’s Lake Pueblo. With the high amount of boater traffic between Lake Mead and Lake Powell, Utah is very vulnerable to contamination by mussel invaders.
One might ask, how much damage can these little mussels cause? The Great Lakes provide a good example of the amount of destruction possible. Water users in the region spend billions of dollars on quagga and zebra mussel control every year. The mussels attach to hard surfaces, colonizing on water transport structures inside power and municipal water treatment plants. These industrial plants have reported significant reductions in pumping capabilities and occasional shutdowns. Many industries have had to develop costly control methods to maintain their water intake systems. The costs incurred from these control methods are eventually passed on to taxpayers.
Quagga and zebra mussels not only increase the maintenance costs of water facilities, but they also foul drinking water. When mussels die, their flesh decays giving the water a foul taste and odor. Mussels also discard waste in such a high volume that the bottom of a lake loses its oxygen, creating a zone where fish and other aquatic life cannot live. When water levels recede during irrigation draw down, massive amounts of attached mussels are exposed, creating a beach littered with a mass of sharp shells that can cut bare feet.
Quagga and zebra mussels are attracted to water pipes due to the constant flow of fresh water, which brings them food in the form of plankton. Once inside, they continue to breed and can eventually plug the pipe. The methods employed to deal with this situation are expensive and never completely solve the problem. For example, chemicals can be sent down pipes to kill attached mussels. However, even after the mussels die, their shells flow down the pipes where they clog irrigation or drinking water systems.
There are also ecological and recreational impacts that will degrade fishing opportunities and cause damage to boats. Quagga and zebra mussels colonize fresh water in thick mats, smothering native plants and animals, filtering out food, and altering the ecosystem. As filter feeders, they remove plankton and nutrients from the water very efficiently, leaving little or nothing for native aquatic species. They have the potential of collapsing entire food webs, reducing fish populations and devastating sport fisheries.
Boaters may experience damage to their equipment due to boating in quagga or zebra mussel infested waters. Engines may be ruined as mussels block the cooling system and cause overheating. Quagga and zebra mussels have also been known to jam steering equipment on boats. Attached to the bottom of a boat, mussels increase drag, which reduces speed and wastes fuel. Since the mussels firmily attach themselves to boat hulls, constant scraping and repainting is also necessary.The good news is that quagga mussels can’t run or fly; the only way they can be spread long distances is by attaching themselves to boats. If we all make an effort to decontaminate our boats, especially when leaving a contaminated water body, we can stop their spread. These species can cause so much damage that the Utah legislature passed a law to prohibit the transportation of these mussels in the State of Utah. If you fail to decontaminate your boat and are found carrying mussels, you will face criminal charges. To avoid this hassle and keep these species out of Utah do a simple decontamination procedure after each boating trip.
(1) The do-it-yourself method:
Remove all plants and animal material from your boat;
Drain all water from your boat;
Air-dry your boat and other equipment for at least 7 days in the summer, or 18 days during the spring or fall, or during winter allow your equipment to be exposed to freezing conditions for 3 days before launching into a new water body.
The professional services method:
You can also use the services of a professional to apply scalding hot water (140 degree Fahrenheit) to wash your boat and trailer and to flush your motor, bilge, and livewells
Note: Please be aware that standard car washes do not heat water hot enough to kill quagga or zebra mussels. High pressure, hot water decontamination stations are available at most marinas within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, including Wahweap, Stateline (steam cleaner), Bullfrog, and Halls Crossing (steam cleaner) marinas. This is a good opportunity to wash any mud or other debris from your boat and ensure that any attached mussels are killed. Hot water decontamination stations are also available at Lake Mead.
If you’re a boater, angler, farmer, or part of the general public, we all have something to lose if quagga or zebra mussels are transported into our state. Knowledge of how mussels are transported and properly decontaminating your boat is the best protection we have.
Residents invited to peek at strutting sage-grouse
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources invites the residents of Castle Country and elsewhere to watch strutting sage-grouse on April 12 at Emma Park in Carbon County. Emma Park is situated about 13 miles north of Price. The Emma Park Road serves as an alternate route for motorists, traveling up or down Price Canyon.
Viewing is best before or just after sunrise. Grouse leave the strutting ground within an hour or so after sun-up. Grouse spend daylight hours in stands of sagebrush, where they feed and rest. For the most part, grouse remain out-of-sight, until the following morning, when they congregate at the strutting ground at first light.
DWR biologists will be on-hand with spotting scopes and binoculars. They will help the public find the grouse and answer any questions they may have. There is no pre-registration. The event is free of charge. The general public is cordially invited.
To get to Emma Park from Price, travel north on U. S. Highway 6 to the Castle Gate Power Plant. Turn right onto Highway 191 and travel in a northeasterly direction for about six miles to the Bamberger Monument. From there, turn left onto the Emma Park Road, and travel in a westerly direction, until you see parked state vehicles.
From the Wasatch Front, travel east on U.S. Highway 6 from Spanish Fork. At the top of Price Canyon, turn left onto the Emma Park Road, which is signed. Travel easterly until you see vehicles with the state seal. For more information, contact: Brent Stettler at: 435-613-3707.
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