Results from 50 samples taken across the state show that Utah waters are free of the invasive quagga and zebra mussels plaguing reservoirs and lake across the nation.
That may come as a bit of a surprise to those who remember that the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has already announced that two waters -- Red Fleet Reservoir north of Vernal and Electric Lake in Emery County -- both tested positive for the tiny mussel that can cause massive problems.
"There have been some parts of the United States where they had early detections and then they sometimes go a year or two and can't find them," said Larry Dalton, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator for the DWR. "Then, on the third or fourth year they do show up."
Dalton said wildlife officials will remain aggressive in their campaign to prevent the mussels from finding homes in Utah waters, particularly at Red Fleet and Electric Lake.
"We will decontaminate every boat that leaves those two waters," he said. "We estimate that $15 million will be spent in Utah annually on added maintenance to industrial facilities. Utah, as a state, is pretty interested in preventing that from happening."
The non-native mussels are prolific breeders and end up clogging pipes in dams, power plants and irrigation lines. They have the capacity to destroy fisheries and their shells can make a barefoot walk along the shore a painful experience.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates the potential cost of mussel infestation in just the Great Lakes region between 2000 and 2010 will be $5 billion.
The final data is yet to be tallied, but Dalton said aquatic invasive species employees made direct contact with more than 200,000 boats in 2009. Boaters are asked where they last had their vessel and how long it had been out of the water. Inspections were conducted when deemed necessary.
All boats leaving Red Fleet (roughly 800) and Electric Lake (approximately 200) were decontaminated with a high-pressure, hot-water process as a precaution. Another 400 decontaminations were performed at other waters across the state.
Dalton said there were four boats "encrusted with mussels" encountered in Utah during 2009, none of them made it in the water.
National Park Service officials at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area on Lake Powell have also been enforcing mussel inspections. One boater from Nevada was found guilty of and fined $2,500 for failing to have his "at risk" boat inspected before launching at Lake Powell.
"The National Park Service has handed out a number of infractions regarding aquatic invasive species," Dalton said. "People need to be aware how serious this issue is."
Decontamination is the only way to stop the spread of mussels. It does not harm your boat. It can actually prevent damage on your boat by removing mussels that would clog pumps and hoses. Here's how:
Clean mud, plants, animals or other debris from your boat and equipment.
Drain the ballast tanks, bilge, livewells and motor.
Dry (7 days summer, 18 days spring/fall and 30 days in the winter) or freeze (3 days).
Or you can have a professional decontamination (generally a free service) available at many Utah waters. Certified personnel will wash your trailer and boat inside and out -- flushing your ballast tanks, bilge, livewells and motor with high-pressure, scalding (140° F) water. This method is effective and does not harm your boat.
Source: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
See a video on preventing the transport of exotic mussels at www.sltrib.com/outdoors
