PREVENT ZEBRA MUSSELS FROM ENTERING INTO UTAH WATERS

Utah Department of Natural Resources
March 19, 2007


What are Zebra mussels?

Zebra mussels are a small, two-shelled animal similar to a clam. Their size is microscope as larvae, and up to two inches in shell length as adults. The shells have an alternating dark and light stripped pattern like a Zebra. A close cousin to the Zebra mussel is the Quagga mussel, which was recently found in Lake Meade and Lake Havasu in the lower Colorado River drainage in Arizona and Nevada.

Where do they come from?

Zebra and Quagga mussels are not native animals from Utah. They come from eastern Russia in river drainages near the Caspian and Black Seas.

How did they get to the United States?

They were first discovered in the Great Lakes area in the mid- 1980’s. They have since spread to drainages throughout the upper Mississippi River and St. Lawrence River. Initial efforts to stop them from spreading to the west were started several years ago. Unfortunately, these mussels were found by divers in Lake Meade, just below Lake Powell, in January 2007.

Have they been found in Utah?

No. But Utah Department of Natural Resources employees are fearful that due to their proximity to Lake Powell and other southern reservoirs in Utah, they could be spread to state waters.

How is it spread?

Usually it is transported on commercial or recreation boats. It also is spread through canal systems and other water delivery mechanisms.

Why are they so bad?

- One female produces up to a million eggs a year. With no predators, they quickly spread throughout a lake or reservoir, and attach to any hard surface in large clusters.
- They seriously clog inlet pipes and screens for culinary water, sanitation, intakes to power plants and irrigation.
- They impact the habitat needed to grow sport fish in large lakes, reservoirs and streams.
- These mussel shells attach in clusters, and are sharp. They have been documented to cut swimmers and boaters on beaches.
- According to infested states, the cost to unclog piping systems and change fisheries management after they become established runs into the millions of dollars annually.

What is the State of Utah doing to prevent infestation of Zebra mussel into our waters?

The Department of Natural Resources has prepared a policy on preventing the spread of Zebra mussels into our state. This policy will guide us on preventing the spread of this unwanted animal in Utah, and educate the public how to avoid transporting it on their boats.

Some of the prevention work being done is to train our biologists and conservation officers on identify the mussels. Our enforcement officers will be stopping and inspecting boats for mussels during the year, particularly those coming from the southern Nevada area. These boat checks will be done in cooperation with officers from the National Park Service.

Our conservation outreach people are already developing signs near boat ramps and sending out brochures on how to keep your boats clean; thereby not transporting this mussel to other waters. The best way to keep these mussels off your boats is to wash them with 140 degree water or to let them totally dry out in the hot sun for a minimum of 5 days prior to going out on the next trip.