KSL News) The Utah Department of Wildlife Resources says water samples from Electric Lake in Emery County have tested positive for zebra mussel DNA. This is the first time the DNA has been confirmed in a Utah body of water.
[url "http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=4836533"]http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=4836533[/url]
[signature]
Terrible news.
[signature]
[font "Times New Roman"][#000000]Has the DWR or any other group said what they are prepared to do about this?[/#000000][/font]
[signature]
wow that news would have been better a week ago..
i think they better test Fish lake soon.. a week ago i had my boat on E-lake then went to fish lake last weekend with out washing it.. [:/].. sorry guy's!
[signature]
The first few words that came out of my mouth after reading this news were not good ones.
Invasive species suck, and so does the person who brought them into Utah! Of all places they would turn up, why little electric lake?
It was bound to happen eventually with all our population growth and people coming in from out of state. Our resources can only stay unaffected by irresponsible treatment for so long until things break down.
I better not slip and fall on any of those buggers - ouch!
[signature]
That sucks. I wonder how they managed to start there??? Not a ton of boaters on e-lake.
[signature]
[quote Theekillerbee]That sucks. I wonder how they managed to start there??? Not a ton of boaters on e-lake.[/quote]
Birds... Ducks, Geese etc can bring it from lake to lake via mud on their feet & body /shrug.
-DallanC
[signature]
Colorado Reservoirs have an in place Mussel Wash station at most of their Lakes. It is a pain in the rear, but it keeps the mussels from getting in their lakes via peoples boats. Looks like we need to do it that way here in Utah. There is going to be a bunch of un-happy and impatient people in the future when it takes an additional hour to get on the lake.
TS
[signature]
I noticed Yuba and Red Fleet had the mobile boat washing stations at there launch sites. The only problem with it is the only way they know your boat was in another infected water is if you tell them or check the box on the questionnaire. Hopefully people don't lie so they don't have to wait to get on the water.
[signature]
I read somewhere that is suspected that the zebra mussels were possibly transported there by a water trucks used in the oilfield that may have come from out of state.
My guess is that we will never know. There are so many ways it could get in there.
We thought whirling desease was bad news.
This really sucks.
I suspect that within the near future we will be given the bad news of other infested waters.
[signature]
[quote DallanC]
Birds... Ducks, Geese etc can bring it from lake to lake via mud on their feet & body /shrug.
-DallanC[/quote]
Good point.
[signature]
As much and as many places as I fish I have yet to see a boat wash running...
The only way they could have been stopped was to stop all boats at the state line and make each one wash down before they come in the state...
[signature]
Ok, what about the birds? There was a boat washing station at Henry's. I went up there in August. I just went right by them. There was a teenage kid sitting in a lawnchair that could care less where I came from. Bottom line is if this is as serious and determental to the lake as the biologist think then we're in for a world of hurt. Hopefully there is a treatment for E-lake or it will just spread. BTW are they even in there or just the DNA? Is there a difference? I might have the DNA in my siliva?!
[signature]
[font "Times New Roman"][#000000]I wanted to know what the plan to deal with this was so I e-mailed the DWR to see what they can tell me. Here it is, and at least there are a few practical options:[/#000000][/font]
[font "Times New Roman"][#000000]Currently,
The Division of Wildlife is working closely with the water users at electric lake and other partner agencies to build a response plan. This plan will likely take a drainage wide approach and cover the topics of preventing the further spread of the mussels and control methods of the mussels at E. Lake. On the ground at E. Lake we will have technicians present until freeze up educating boaters and decontaminated departing boaters as a precaution to prevent the further spread via boats.
The water temperature at E. Lake is now cold enough that they are no longer breeding, so taking further water samples at this time is not useful. We will however continue to sample the water next summer to get a better idea on the extent of infestation.
We are working closely with PacifiCorp to inspect their facilities for the presence of Zebra Mussels and training their employees what to look for as they go about their work around the power plant and at the lake (it is likely that adults will first show up within the infrastructure of the dam or water intakes)
Treatments of the lake are being considered and evaluated for successes. One of the most likely treatments may be KCL (potassium chloride) When dissolved into the water at a rate of 50 ppm you can achieve a 100% kill. This option is very attractive because water is safe for drinking up to 200 ppm. The issue is cost, you would need dump truck loads of the stuff and a very intensive effort to apply the KCL throughout the lake and drainage. Other chemicals can be used as well but are not as environmentally friendly. Chlorine drip stations and UV light stations can be installed to treat the water before it enters the power plant to protect their facilities. (also very expensive)
We are fortunate to have detected the mussels early enough that we have time to react and carefully consider all our options.
Thanks,
Dan Keller
Aquatic Invasive Species Biologist
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
319 N Carbonville Road, Suite A
Price, Utah 84501
Office: (435) 613-3720
Fax: (435) 613-3704
danielkeller@utah.gov
[/#000000][/font]
[signature]