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What is it?

A Zebra Mussel is a freshwater bivalve mollusk and a relative of clams and oysters. The mussels range from microscopic to a maximum of two inches long and the shell alternates between a yellowish and darker brown, often times forming stripes. The zebra mussel differs from native North American freshwater mussels in the fact that they can attach to items via tiny threads (byssal threads) to hard surfaces. Typical native North American freshwater mussels burrow in soft sediments. Zebra mussels can survive in very cold waters, and are native to the Black and Caspian seas.

 

Why is it a problem?

Zebra mussels were first discovered in the Great Lakes in the late 1980s. They were transported in ballast water of ocean-going ships, and the ballast water was released into waterways and lakes in North America. Zebra mussels have spread into freshwater bodies across the entire United States via boats, trailers and equipment. Zebra mussels clog water infrastructure such as dams, impact water supply and quality, encrust docks and boats and impact power plants, water treatment facilities and water delivery infrastructures.  Additionally, they have the ability to completely alter aquatic ecosystems and native plant and animal communities. They consume massive amounts of food and produce equal amounts of waste. Zebra Mussels have the potential to remove large amounts of microscopic plants and animals that are the base of many food chains, inevitably altering every level of the chain. In the Gunnison Basin, the biggest concern for zebra mussels is in Blue Mesa Reservoir, as an infestation could be catastrophic for the Wayne Aspinall Unit of dams. A staff member of the Curecanti National Recreation Area must check all boats entering the reservoir, all of which are National Park Service staff. In 2014, only two checkpoints were open for inspection and launching, Lake Fork and Elk Creek. Watercraft that does not require an inspection includes rafts, kayaks, belly boats, float tubes, canoes, and small open boats. The current annual cost at Curecanti for the management exceeds $350,000. The park has partnered with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife and national mussel prevention campaigns to develop and meet Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention standards.

 

Management Techniques:

• Boat and equipment inspections (not present at every large body of water in the State of Colorado, but this is present at Blue Mesa in the Gunnison Basin).

• Federal and state agencies are working to educate the public on proper cleaning techniques of all watercraft when moving between water bodies. This includes following the “Clean/Drain/Dry” protocol for all required watercraft. Boaters should look for and remove all plants and mud, ensure the anchor is not dirty, clean with hot water, drain all ballast tanks, dispose of all bait, and dry out all equipment prior to the next use.

• Law Enforcement – While many inspectors are federal employees, most are not law officers. Although they are not law officers, they have the ability to report any visitor to local agencies.

 

What Can We Do:

• Follow all mandatory inspection protocols before putting equipment or boats into any body of water in the Gunnison Basin.

• Properly clean, drain and dry all watercraft between water bodies.

• Before planning your next boating trip, research where designated launching areas on Blue Mesa Reservoir are, and determine if your watercraft is subject to inspection.

 

Entities working on this invasive in the Gunnison Basin:

National Park Service

• Curecanti National Recreational Area is the main entity working on the prevention of Zebra Mussels in the Gunnison Basin. They currently have two inspection checkpoints open on Blue Mesa and have partnered with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife and national mussel prevention campaigns to develop and meet Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention standards.

 

National Park Service State of the Park Report

• This report includes a brief on Aquatic Invasive Species, as well as monitoring and prevention information.

 

General Information on Zebra Mussels:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

• Employee Handbook

  • This is the Official Watercraft Inspection Decontamination Procedure Handbook 

• Boat Inspection Information

  • This webpage provides a video of the cleaning and decontamination process, as well as helpful links for in and out of state boaters.

Zebra Mussels

Dreissena polymorpha