This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Director Greg Sheehan has signed an order requiring decontamination of boats leaving Lake Powell to prevent the spread of destructive mussels.
The order, which stems from the recent discovery of 14 mussels at Lake Powell, is aimed at preventing the spread of the mussels to other Utah waters.
"We're doing everything we can to keep quagga and zebra mussels out of Utah," said Larry Dalton, DWR's aquatic invasive species coordinator.
"If mussels ever establish themselves here, they could do millions of dollars in damage to water-delivery systems. They could also affect the state's recreation areas and fishing, and damage boats," he said.
Dalton said that boat owners can decontaminate their own crafts or have it professionally done. Instructions on how to decontaminate a boat are available at: http://wildlife.utah.gov/dwr/decontaminate.html .
Dalton said boat owners must also complete a decontamination certification form, which is available at: http://wildlife.utah.gov/mussels/PDF/self_certify.pdf .
Boat owners must display the form in their launch vehicle before launching a boat on any water in Utah.
Dalton says the decontamination order isn't just for the Easter weekend.
"The order will stay in place as long as there are mussels in Lake Powell," he said.