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Zebra Mussel Prevention at Lake Powell. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Meet the Zebra Mussel. Dreissena polymorpha and D. bugensis (quagga mussel). Small invasive mussel with varying stripes. Attaches to surfaces with byssal threads. Cost to Facilities. Forms thick mats.
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Zebra Mussel Preventionat Lake Powell Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Meet the Zebra Mussel Dreissena polymorpha and D. bugensis (quagga mussel) • Small invasive mussel with varying stripes • Attaches to surfaces with byssal threads
Cost to Facilities • Forms thick mats • Fills intake pipes • Clogs trash screens • Encrusts docks, launch ramps, rocks, andanything else in the water
Cost to Recreation • Encrusts Boats • Clogs Engines
Cost to Recreation • Encrusts Boats • Clogs Engines • Covers beaches with sharp shells • Fills air with stench of decay
Ecological Damage • 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, …) • 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
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
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 Eastto 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
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