Winter 2009

Stop the spread of quagga mussels

Reservoirs along the Salt and Verde rivers so far have not been hit with major outbreaks of invasive quagga mussels that have been found elsewhere in the West, and SRP hopes to keep it that way.

In support of the statewide "Don't Move a Mussel" campaign, SRP is urging boaters who visit lakes on the Salt and Verde rivers or Lake Powell to take special precautions to keep the mussels from spreading.

Unwelcome visitors

Because mussels attach to hard surfaces such as concrete and pipes, they can significantly increase maintenance costs for SRP water and power plant facilities. The mussel also can damage watercraft and affect lake ecosystems and fisheries.

Quagga mussels, which have caused millions of dollars in damage in the Great Lakes region, were first discovered at Lake Mead on the Colorado River in January 2007. Since then they have been confirmed in Lakes Mohave, Havasu and Pleasant and have shown rapid population growth, becoming a serious maintenance concern\ for facility operators.

What to do

Boaters and anglers should take the following precautionary steps each time they visit a waterway anywhere in the state:

  • Clean the hull of the boat and trailer; remove all plant and animal material.
  • Drain the water from the boat, livewell and the lower unit.
  • Dry the boat, fishing gear, equipment and trailer between launches.

Day boat users are urged to wait five days before launching their boats at another location. This is especially critical for boaters using Lake Pleasant or any waters along the lower Colorado River and who also are planning to enjoy the Salt or Verde reservoirs or Lake Powell. This five-day waiting period will aid in killing microscopic quagga larvae. Also, Arizona Game & Fish suggests washing the hull of boats with high-pressure water, either at the lake — if washers are available — or after leaving the waterway.

For more information

Please visit the Arizona Department of Fish and Game Web site for more information about the mussel problem. To find out more about preventing the spread of the quaggas, visit ProtectYourWaters.net or 100thmeridian.org.