Zebra mussels have invaded the Colorado River, government wildlife managers have confirmed.
The invasion is significant because the Colorado River runs through nine national parks and national recreation areas. The river is also a source of drinking water for millions and irrigation for farms, and the mussels threaten water infrastructure.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) office in Grand Junction announced that an investigation discovered zebra mussels inhabiting and breeding portions of the upper Colorado River and the Government Highline Canal connected to the river.
“This challenging discovery has ecological and economic impacts not only on the Grand Valley but potential statewide impacts as well,” CPW Director Jeff Davis said in a statement.
Davis said the next step is to figure out how far along the zebra mussel infestation is and what specific infrastructure and natural resources are threatened. “CPW is committed to working with all of our partners as we work to better understand the extent of this discovery and the next steps in protecting the natural resources and infrastructure,” he said.
Zebra mussels attach to hard surfaces and bunch together, which can lead them to clogging pipes, requiring regular expensive maintenance to keep water lines open. The mussels are also filter feeders and will compete with native species for plankton.
The mussels spread from different freshwater areas because careless boaters do not completely drain and clean their boats after use. Zebra mussel eggs can survive in the boat intake equipment and spread to other lakes and rivers.
Among other protected lands, the Colorado River meanders through Dinosaur National Monument, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park. It also feeds Lake Mead.
The confirmation of the presence of zebra mussels in the canal and Colorado River is doubly disappointing for CPW as it tries to manage a zebra mussel invasion in Highline Lake State Park.
CPW is attempting to eradicate zebra mussels from Highline Lake by completely draining it. This latest discovery suggests that those efforts will prove largely futile given the connections between Highline Lake and the Colorado River.
The agency says it’s now reconsidering its options.
“CPW is evaluating options for the future management of Highline Lake based on this new information,” officials there said. “Updates regarding access, fishing regulations, and water management will be provided once those decisions have been made.”
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Park Info
Park Name:
Colorado River and Government Highline Canal
Location:
Colorado, USA
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