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| 10/10/2008 12:56:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Mussel larvae found at Tarryall
Debra Orecchio
Correspondent
Quagga mussel larvae have been found in Tarryall Reservoir southeast of Jefferson in Park County.
Quagga mussels and zebra mussels are the only freshwater mollusks found in North America that have the ability to attach to any hard object, said Jerry Neal, public information officer for the Division of Wildlife. Both are invasive species and cause a lot of damage because of their ability to attach themselves to any hard object, including water system intakes, dam infrastructure, boat motors and hydroelectric equipment.
They can also affect agriculture by blocking the water flow of irrigation systems, Neal added. In addition, because they are "filter feeders," they remove plankton and other small organisms from the water, which affects the food chain and can completely alter the aquatic ecosystem and damage fisheries.
They can also cause damage to boat motors by blocking the flow of cooling water to the engine, according to a January 2008 press release issued by DOW.
Quagga mussel larvae, known as veligers, were discovered in water samples taken from Tarryall, and an independent lab confirmed quagga mussel DNA in the samples, said the press release.
Once the mussels are established in a lake or reservoir, they reproduce rapidly and there is no way to eradicate them, Neal said, aside from draining the reservoir.
"Only expensive, regular maintenance keeps pipelines clear and water infrastructure free from damage," Neal said in an e-mail. "Until the adult mussels start showing up, we don't know how damaging they are going to be to our aquatic ecosystems. It if proved necessary and economically viable, a lake like Tarryall could be drained to destroy the mussels. The fishery could then be rebuilt once the lake is no longer infested."
The presence of the veligers in Tarryall indicates there are a decent number of adult mussels there. That's the case despite a boat inspection program that has been in place to detect any mussels on boats or trailers before they enter the water.
Neal said the DOW doesn't know yet how well established the mussels will become in Tarryall and other lakes in Colorado. There are many variables, including water temperature and water composition, that will determine if the mussels are able to sustain large populations in lakes in Colorado.
"We don't know how long it's going to take before we start seeing the effects of the adult mussels," he said. "A lot will depend on how well the mussels are able to grow and reproduce in the lake."
The mussels are introduced in lakes and reservoirs when the adult mussels attach themselves to boats or trailers that are then taken to different lakes. The adults can close up in their shells and survive for days and even several weeks out of the water. The larvae can stow away in any water stored in the boat in bait tanks, live wells, engine cooling systems and in ballast and bilge tanks.
Neal gave an example of a boater at Pueblo who had purchased a boat from out of state on the online auction site e-Bay and that was found to be contaminated by mussels.
Neal said that the one message the DOW wants to get out is that boaters need to make sure they clean, drain and dry their boat when they leave the lake.
"Boaters need to remain extremely vigilant in following the clean, drain and dry protocol," said Elizabeth Brown, DOW invasive species coordinator. "We need the help of boaters to prevent the spread of the mussels in Colorado. There are hundreds of uninfested lakes, and we want to keep them that way."
Boaters need to drain all of the water from the boat, including the live well and the lower unit of the engine. The hull of the boat needs to be cleaned and dried. All fishing gear and other equipment also needs to be dried. The boat should also be inspected and any plant and animal material needs to be removed.
All boats entering Tarryall must be inspected at the north ramp off Park County Road 77. If it is determined that a boat is at risk for contamination, there is a decontamination station, known as a "Hotsy," that uses 140 degree water to clean and decontaminate the boat, Neal said.
Zebra and quagga mussels first appeared in the Great Lakes in 1988. Since that time, the maintenance cost for water treatment plants, power plants and dams have been in the billions of dollars, Neal said.According to the January 2008 press release, it is believed that the mussels were first introduced to the United States in ballast water discharge from ocean-going ships.
The mussels have moved westward and established a presence in the Western States, Neal said. In Colorado, the mussels were discovered for the first time in Pueblo reservoir in January 2008. The mussels are now present in six other reservoirs: Granby, Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain, Willow Creek, Tarryall and Jumbo.
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