Boat At Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Quarantined For 30 Days For Mussel Infestation

A boat owner who was looking forward to spending time on Lake Powell at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area instead will be without his craft for a month because he didn't rid it of invasive mussels.

Boats arriving at Lake Powell are regularly inspected for quagga mussels, an invasive species that can disrupt the native ecosystem and cause problems with water systems. According to a release from the NRA, on March 24 a boat was found to be infested with live adult quagga mussels. The mussels were discovered by an employee at Antelope Point Marina during a routine inspection, the NRA release said. Park staff decontaminated the vessel and placed it in quarantine for 30 days to ensure that all associated mussels will die before it is launched.

In addition to the adult mussels found attached in small crevices on the hull and outdrives, numerous quagga mussel larvae (veligers) were detected in water held in the engine and other systems of the boat, the release added. Movement was evident in the microscopic body masses within the tiny veliger shells during laboratory examination indicating thatthe veligers were alive.

"These microscopic veligers are a real threat to Lake Powell. This example reinforces our sense of duty and provides clear evidence that even water, while seemingly harmless to the naked eye, can have a huge impact on park resources," said Glen Canyon’s Chief of Resource Management Chris Hughes.

The boat in question had previously been moored in a lower Colorado River reservoir that is infested with quagga mussels, a type of invasive mussel commonly referred to as zebra mussels, the NRA said. The infested boat had received a decontamination treatment prior to leaving the lower Colorado reservoir, but it is nearly impossible to find and remove all of the mussels, it continued.

NRA officials say that while "quarantine is undoubtedly inconvenient for park visitors, keeping Lake Powell mussel-free is essential to maintaining the economic and ecological vitality of the resource and surrounding communities and region."

Glen Canyon began a proactive zebra mussel prevention program in 1999 and continues to be one of the leaders in zebra mussel prevention in the western United States. Since 2003, the park has required all vessels identified as having a high risk of transporting zebra mussels to Lake Powell to receive a specialized boat and equipment wash before launching in Lake Powell. This service is provided at the park for free.

For additional information on Glen Canyon’s efforts to keep Lake Powell mussel-free, visit Zebra Mussel Advisory. Information on the impact of invasive mussels can be found at www.protectyourwaters.net and www.100thmeridian.org.