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Latest quagga and zebra mussel results
#1
DWR continues work to protect Utah from devastating mussels

Better safe than sorry.

That's the approach the Division of Wildlife Resources and its partners are taking as they continue to work aggressively and diligently to keep quagga and zebra mussels out of Utah.

It's also the reason they're reacting the way they are to conflicting quagga and zebra test results they've received for several waters in Utah.

The tests help biologists determine whether veligers - a microscopic, early-stage form of the quagga and zebra mussel - are in various waters.

Electric Lake, the Colorado River near Moab, Red Fleet Reservoir and Lake Powell are the four waters the DWR has received conflicting results for.

"We're not surprised about the conflicting results. We're using methods that are on the cutting edge of science," says Larry Dalton, aquatic invasive species coordinator for the DWR.

"Under a microscope, what looks like a microscopic veliger may not turn out to be one when its DNA is tested. And DNA science is not as straightforward and predictive as television would lead you to believe."

Better safe than sorry

Dalton says even though the DWR isn't sure the suspect waters have mussels in them, biologists are not taking any chances. "We're going to watch these waters even more closely," he says. "In addition to contacting boaters as they visit the waters, we'll also ask them to decontaminate their boats as they leave."

Dalton says boat owners can decontaminate their boats themselves by cleaning and draining as soon as they leave the water, and then allowing it to dry when they get home. "Or we can do it for them using special decontamination units," he says. "These units spray water that's 140 degrees hot. This scalding-hot water kills the mussels immediately."

Decontamination units are usually at or near Utah's most popular boating waters. There is no cost to get your boat decontaminated.

Testing this summer

DWR biologists and the agency's partners collected 54 water samples across Utah this past summer and early fall. The samples were sent to three laboratories in Colorado. Test results are starting to come back.

Conflicting results

The DWR has received conflicting results from samples taken at Red Fleet Reservoir in northeastern Utah, Electric Lake in southeastern Utah and the stretch of the Colorado River near Moab.

Work done under a microscope at one laboratory, and DNA test results from a second lab, indicated the samples contained veligers. But DNA results from a third lab said the samples did not contain veligers.

At two additional waters in northeastern Utah, Pelican Lake and Midview Reservoir, work done under a microscope at one lab indicated that both waters had veligers. But DNA tests at both the second and third labs indicated the waters did not have veligers in them.

Additional DNA testing is taking place at both waters. In the meantime, Midview Reservoir, which is on Ute tribal land, was closed to boating by the Ute tribe. For more information about boating and fishing at Midview and Bottle Hollow reservoirs, call (435) 722-5511.

"Lake Powell is another water we're concerned about," Dalton says. "It's a popular boating water and receives boaters from all across the West. Many of those boaters arrive from nearby waters, such as Lake Pleasant, Lake Havasu and Lake Mead. All three of these waters have quagga mussels in them."

Quagga and zebra mussels were not found in Lake Powell this summer, but conflicting microscope and DNA test results did occur in 2007.

Because the lake faces so many threats from mussels, DWR and National Park Service personnel at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area will ramp up their already intense efforts to manage boaters and the mussel threat.

"Now that quagga and zebra mussels have been confirmed in the Colorado River's headwaters, and quagga mussels might be in the Colorado River near Moab, the threat to Lake Powell has increased again."

More results in summer 2009

Dalton says the DWR and its partners will continue to educate boaters about quagga and zebra mussels. They'll also advise boaters to routinely decontaminate their boats every time they leave any water in the state.

Biologists will also take more water samples in 2009. Because quagga and zebra mussels breed in the summer, that's the best time to sample for them.

"This past summer was our first year of sampling," Dalton says. "We'll do even more sampling next summer. Sampling is our best tool for early detection. Although the results can be confusing, it's the best information we have about whether or not we have quagga and zebra mussels in Utah."

DWR praises foresight and partners

As DWR biologists wrap up their first season of sampling, Dalton praised Utah state government officials, the National Park Service and the DWR's partners for joining together to form Utah's Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force.

"Gov. Huntsman and the Utah Legislature realize how serious this threat is to the state of Utah, and they've already provided $2.5 million to fight it," Dalton says. "Without their support and funding, none of the work we did this year would have happened."

Dalton also praised National Park Service personnel at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

"They've been fantastic to work with," Dalton says. "They know the serious threat mussels pose to Lake Powell. They've been a leader and have stood shoulder to shoulder with us in protecting the lake.

"That, in turn, helps protect all of Utah's waters. Twenty nine percent of Utah's boaters visit Lake Powell every year."

Serious threat

Quagga and zebra mussels are a serious threat to Utah. They can:

* Jeopardize essential power and water infrastructures

* Destroy recreation areas and equipment<br />
* Severely damage ecosystems, displacing native and sport fish species<br />
* Cost millions of dollars to control

More information about Driessena mussels is available at www.wildlife.utah.gov/news/07-03/quagga.php.

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