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Quagga Mussels in the West: 2007 and Beyond. Tina Proctor Western States Water Council November 2007. January, 2007 Quagga mussels in Lake Mead NRA. Quaggas and zebras – same genus, different species. Quagga mussel. Microscopic to 2 inches Live up to 5 years May spawn all year
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Quagga Mussels in the West: 2007 and Beyond Tina Proctor Western States Water Council November 2007
Quagga mussel • Microscopic to 2 inches • Live up to 5 years • May spawn all year • Peaks in spring and fall • Larval stage is free floating, carried with currents • Adult stage attaches to hard surfaces Zebra mussel
Ecological Remove food and nutrients Have potential of collapsing entire food web Economic Clog pipes, ruin boat moors, damage water delivery and power systems Once established, maintenance is perpetual Management costs are enormous Impacts
Parker Dam, Lake Havasu Test Plates were cleaned on 6/28/08. This picture taken on 8/6/08 • Glen Tuerschmann, Parker Dam Facility Manager • Mussels are beginning to establish themselves in the dam facilities
State and Federal Response • California • Incident Command Team • Funded 4 border check stations 24/7 • Watercraft decontamination Training for city and state staff • Scientific Advisory Panel • Monitoring in high priority waters • Will train dogs to detect quaggas • Legislation to authorize inspections and quarantines
CDFA Border Protection Stations • As of October 2, 2007: • 74,083 boats checked • 8,208 boats needing cleaning • 76 confirmed Dreissenid mussel
Metropolitan water district • Dried large portion of CO River aqueduct • Still got reproduction after re-watering • Some San Diego lakes got water before aqueduct was dried – quaggas now there • Instituted continuous chlorination of water going into aqueduct. • Set up lab for veliger i.d.
State and Federal Response • High level personnel in AZ, NV, CA meet by conference call biweekly • AZ, NV doing monitoring, updating legislation, working on ANS state management plans, education of recreational water users • NPS created rapid response plans for national parks in the west. Inspecting and cleaning boats at Lakes Mead and Mohave.
Quagga Mussels Veliger Density Lake Mead National Recreation Area, 2007 Source: U.S. Department of the Interior – Bureau of Reclamation
California Actions – Outreach Public information and education Boater information letter Hotline 1 (866) 440-9530 Webpage http://www.dfg.ca.gov/quaggamussel/
State and federal partnerships www.100thmeridian.org www.protectyourwaters.net
100th Meridian Initiative • Meeting in Las Vegas, Nov. 27-28 • Discussion of quagga invasion – what is working, what went wrong, where are the gaps • 5-10 year strategic planning • Please attend if you are able to or if you have staff – water resource folks needed
What’s next for water users? • Legislation in CA that water providers must develop containment and control plans in consultation with CA fish and game – will serve as model for other areas. • Look at your own systems. Is there a way for quagga/zebra mussels to enter? • If so, start monitoring.