Zebra Mussel Prevention

at Lake Powell

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Dreissena polymorpha and D. bugensis (quagga mussel)

• Small invasive mussel with varying stripes

• Attaches to surfaces with byssal threads

Meet the Zebra Mussel

Cost to Facilities

• Forms thick mats• Fills intake pipes• Clogs trash screens• Encrusts docks, launch ramps, rocks, and

anything else in the water

Cost to Recreation

• Encrusts Boats

• Clogs Engines

• Covers beaches with sharp shells

• Fills air with stench of decay

• Encrusts Boats

• Clogs Engines

Cost to Recreation

• No ecologically friendly way to eradicate• Encrusts and kills any bottom critters

(clams, crayfish, …)

Ecological Damage

• No ecologically friendly way to eradicate• Encrusts and kills any bottom critters

(clams, crayfish, …)

Ecological Damage

• Filters enormous amounts of algae,disrupting the food chain

• No natural predators of consequence

• Accumulates toxins: Biomagnification

Why Lake Powell?

• Considered the most likely point ofintroduction to the Colorado River System

• Good Conditions for Zebra Mussels

Why Lake Powell?

• Considered the most likely point ofintroduction to the Colorado River System

• Good Conditions for Zebra Mussels

• Mussels are transported on boats, in bilgewater, in engines, on trailers, with bait

Life Cycle

History of Invasion

• From the Caspian and Black Seas

• Took over all of Europe

History of Invasion

• From the Caspian and Black Seas

• Took over all of Europe

• Came to America in ballast water

• Discovered in Lake St. Clair in 1988

• Moved through the Great Lakes and 8 majorrivers in the East

Zebra Mussel Spread

What is being done for theColorado River System?

• Lake Powell Prevention Program

• Utah Aquatic Nuisance Species Action Team• Utah Division of Wildlife Resources• Education through signs and brochures• Boat inspections at 15 State Parks

What is being done for theColorado River System?

• Lake Powell Prevention Program

• Utah Aquatic Nuisance Species Action Team• Utah Division of Wildlife Resources• Education through signs and brochures• Boat inspections at 15 State Parks

• 100th Meridian Initiative• National Invasive Species Act (1996)• Forum for multi-agency cooperation• Stop the spread of Aquatic Nuisance Species from East

to West at the 100th Meridian

Lake Powell Prevention

• Monitoring

• Screening

• Washing

Visitor Screening

- Has your vessel been used east of theRocky Mountains in the past 30 days?

- In which state(s) or province(s) east of the Rocky Mountains was your vesselused?- Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky,

Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee,Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Ontario Canada,Quebec Canada

Prevention Packet

• Informative pamphlet

• Coupon for boat washing

• Map to washing facilities

Washing Procedure

• Assume boat is infested

• Remove any organic matter

• High pressure wash• Hull, lines, bumpers, motor, trim tabs, anchor trailer,

and all nooks and crannies

• Drain and flush any water• >140 degrees F• Bilge, live wells, bait buckets, cooling system

Washing Procedure

Washing Procedure

Prevention Program Results forthe 2001 Season

• 13 potentially infested boats entered

• 9 were voluntarily washed

• Roughly the same as 2000

For more information

• Mark Anderson- 928-608-6266- Mark_Anderson@nps.gov

• Web Resources- www.100thMeridian.org- www.wes.army.mil/el/zebra/zmis/zmishelp.htm

National Park Service Mission

• Protect resources

• Provide recreation

• Web Resources- www.100thMeridian.org- www.wes.army.mil/el/zebra/zmis/zmishelp.htm