Zebra mussels found in Colorado River near Grand Junction
Posted
(Source Colorado Parks and Wildlife)
Zebra mussels have made their way to near Grand Junction.
Through ongoing increased sampling efforts on the Colorado River and nearby bodies of water, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) staff have detected zebra mussels in both the Colorado River and nearby lakes in Grand Junction. On Thursday, Aug. 28, the Aquatic Animal Health Lab (AAHL) notified Robert Walters, the Invasive Species Program Manager at CPW, that suspected veligers (the microscopic larval stage of zebra mussels) collected from West and East Lake had tested positive for zebra mussel DNA. These lakes are two separate but connected bodies of water located within the Wildlife Area section of James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park, west of 31 Road. During a follow-up survey on Tuesday, Sept. 2, staff also discovered suspected adult zebra mussels in the lakes. Surveys were also conducted in the lakes’ side channel, where water from the lake is released before flowing into the Colorado River. During these subsequent surveys, additional suspected adult zebra mussels were found in the side channel and in the Colorado River where the side channel meets the mainstem of the river. Visual identification of the samples from the lake, channel and river was performed by ANS staff. Samples were then sent to the AAHL for DNA confirmation. On Monday, Sept. 8, the AAHL confirmed the samples collected are, in fact, adult zebra mussels. With this discovery, the Colorado River is now considered an “infested” body of water from the 32 Road bridge downstream to the Colorado-Utah border. This is the first time adult zebra mussels have been detected in the Colorado River. “While this is news we never wanted to hear, we knew this was a possibility since we began finding veligers,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis. “I can’t reiterate this enough. It was because we have a group of individuals dedicated to protecting Colorado’s water resources that these detections were made. It is because of these same dedicated individuals and our partners that we will continue our efforts to understand the extent of zebra mussels in western Colorado. ”A body of water is considered “infested” when a water body has an established population of invasive species; in this instance, multiple zebra mussel life stages have been found in that body of water. The following bodies of water have the designation of an “infested” body of water:
Highline Lake at Highline Lake State Park.
Mack Mesa Lake at Highline Lake State Park.
West and East Lake at the Wildlife Area Section of James M. Robb - Colorado River State Park.
Colorado River from 32 Road bridge downstream to the Colorado-Utah border.
Private body of water in Eagle County.
The Colorado River remains “positive” for zebra mussels from the confluence of the Roaring Fork River to the 32 Road bridge.CPW, in collaboration with our partners at the local, state and federal levels, will continue our increased sampling and monitoring efforts from the headwaters of the Colorado River in Grand County to the Colorado-Utah border. “We won’t give up,” said CPW Invasive Species Program Manager Robert Walters. “Our priority remains utilizing containment, population management and education to protect the uninfested waters of the state.”CPW will continue to evaluate options for the future containment and mitigation of Highline Lake, Mack Mesa Lake, and West and East Lakes. CPW does not intend to treat the mainstem of the Colorado River due to multiple factors, including risk to native fish populations and critical habitat, length of the potential treatment area and complexity of canals and ditches that are fed by the Colorado River.Since sampling efforts began in mid-April, CPW has collected 427 water samples from various locations in the Colorado River. Of those samples, CPW has confirmed six samples to contain zebra mussel veligers. Staff has also collected 41 samples from the Eagle River and 42 samples from the Roaring Fork River. There have been no detections of zebra mussel veligers in the samples from the Eagle and Roaring Fork rivers. No detections of zebra mussels have occurred between the headwaters of the Colorado River and the confluence of the Roaring Fork River either.The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Aquatic Nuisance Species team is asking anyone who owns a pond or lake that utilizes water from the Colorado River or Grand Junction area canal systems, to to allow CPW inspect the body of water. Request sampling at Invasive.Species@state.co.us.“Despite these additional detections, it remains critical for the continued protection of Colorado’s aquatic resources and infrastructure to fully understand the distribution of zebra mussels in western Colorado,” said Walters. “We can only achieve this with the assistance and participation of the public.”In addition to privately owned ponds and lakes, CPW also encourages those who use water pulled from the Colorado River and find any evidence of mussels or clams to send photos to the above email for identification. It is extremely important to accurately report the location in these reports for follow-up surveying.Prevent the spreadWith the additional discoveries of adult zebra mussels, it is even more important for everyone to play their part in protecting Colorado’s bodies of water and preventing the spread of invasive species. Simple actions like cleaning, draining and drying your motorized and hand-launched vessels — including paddleboards and kayaks — and angling gear after you leave the water can make a big difference to protect Colorado's waters.To learn more visit cpw.state.co.us.(Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife)
Zebra mussels have made their way to near Grand Junction.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here