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 of

introduction to the Colorado River System• Good Conditions for Zebra Mussels

Why Lake Powell?• Considered the most likely point of

introduction to the Colorado River System• Good Conditions for Zebra Mussels• Mussels are transported on boats, in bilge

water, 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 the

Rocky 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