24sleekenforcer
08-09-2007, 09:27 PM
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Arizona Fish and Game Department
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
News Release
August 9, 2007 For Immediate Release
Contacts:
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ? Kevin Schneider, 928-608-6208
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources ? Larry Dalton, 801-652-2465
Arizona Game and Fish Department ? Marc Dahlberg, 602-789-3260
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ? Tina Proctor, 303-236-4515
Invasive Mussels Detected in Lake Powell
Boaters Asked to Inspect their Vessels for Mussels
Page, Ariz. ? New test results indicate the presence of an extremely small number of individual,
larval quagga or zebra mussels in Lake Powell. Two cooperative research and monitoring
efforts, conducted on July 19 and 30 by the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service,
and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, detected three individual mussel larvae at the
Wawheap Marina and near the Glen Canyon Dam.
Dr. David Britton, an expert on quagga and zebra mussels for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
said, ?While the test results indicate the presence of individual larval quagga or zebra mussels in
Lake Powell, much uncertainty remains. We do not know at this point if an established
population is present. We also do not know for certain how quagga or zebra mussels will affect
Lake Powell.?
Five water samples were collected from Lake Powell and analyzed by a Bureau of Reclamation
laboratory in Denver (see table below). The samples were analyzed using two different methods
? a microscopic technique and DNA fingerprint technology. Three of these samples did not
indicate the presence of any quagga or zebra mussels. Two of the samples, collected at the
Wahweap Marina and near the Glen Canyon Dam, indicated the presence of three individual
larval mussels when tested with the microscopic method and DNA fingerprint technology. The
testing methods cannot distinguish whether or not these are quagga mussels or zebra mussels,
which are closely related.
?Additional samples have been collected from Lake Powell and are being analyzed for quagga
and zebra mussels. In the coming weeks, more samples will be collected from various locations
around the lake to determine if mussels are present in other areas,? said Kitty Roberts,
superintendent of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
The National Park Service, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Arizona Game and Fish
Department, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been closely
working with each other to monitor the spread of quagga mussels since they were found in Lake
Mead in January 2007.
The National Park Service?s existing quagga and zebra mussel prevention program will remain
in place. Boats that have been in water bodies with known quagga or zebra mussel infestations
in the last 30 days will continue to be required to be decontaminated before entering Lake
Powell. High pressure, hot water decontamination stations are available at all marinas within
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, including Wahweap, Antelope Point, Bullfrog, and
Halls Crossing marinas.
As a preventative measure, the National Park Service will also begin requiring any boats that are
slipped or moored in Lake Powell to receive a decontamination wash before they exit the park if
they are being moved to a non-infested lake. In addition, people with boats in the marinas at
Lake Powell are strongly encouraged to conduct a thorough inspection of their boat to look for
quagga or zebra mussels which may be attached.
To prevent quagga mussels or any other aquatic nuisance species from being spread to other
lakes, all visitors leaving Lake Powell or any other body of water should thoroughly wash their
boats and trailers after they leave the lake. Bilges, wet wells, motors, and any other part of the
boat that could hold water must be completely drained. Any other gear that has come into
contact with the water ? such as waders or fishing equipment ? should also be washed. The boat
and all gear should be allowed to thoroughly dry in the sun for at least five days before being
used in another water body.
Detailed descriptions about how to clean your boat and equipment are available online at:
www.wildlife.utah.gov/quagga/pdf/boat_inspection.pdf. Further information about quagga and
zebra mussels and how to prevent their spread is available online at www.100thmeridian.org,
www.protect yourwaters.net, and www.nps.gov/glca.
###
Quagga/Zebra Mussel Test Results as of August 8, 2007:
Sample
Date
Location Microscopic
Results
DNA Fingerprint
Results
Number of
Veligers Detected
July 19 Main Channel near Glen
Canyon Dam (sample 1)
Positive Positive 1
July 19 Main Channel near Glen
Canyon Dam (sample 2)
Negative N/A* 0
July 30 Main Channel near Glen
Canyon Dam
Negative N/A* 0
July 30 Wahweap Marina, south
side breakwater
Positive Positive 2
July 30 Antelope Point Marina
Launch Ramp
Negative N/A* 0
* Note: The DNA fingerprint method has not been done on these negative samples.
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Arizona Fish and Game Department
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
News Release
August 9, 2007 For Immediate Release
Contacts:
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area ? Kevin Schneider, 928-608-6208
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources ? Larry Dalton, 801-652-2465
Arizona Game and Fish Department ? Marc Dahlberg, 602-789-3260
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ? Tina Proctor, 303-236-4515
Invasive Mussels Detected in Lake Powell
Boaters Asked to Inspect their Vessels for Mussels
Page, Ariz. ? New test results indicate the presence of an extremely small number of individual,
larval quagga or zebra mussels in Lake Powell. Two cooperative research and monitoring
efforts, conducted on July 19 and 30 by the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service,
and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, detected three individual mussel larvae at the
Wawheap Marina and near the Glen Canyon Dam.
Dr. David Britton, an expert on quagga and zebra mussels for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
said, ?While the test results indicate the presence of individual larval quagga or zebra mussels in
Lake Powell, much uncertainty remains. We do not know at this point if an established
population is present. We also do not know for certain how quagga or zebra mussels will affect
Lake Powell.?
Five water samples were collected from Lake Powell and analyzed by a Bureau of Reclamation
laboratory in Denver (see table below). The samples were analyzed using two different methods
? a microscopic technique and DNA fingerprint technology. Three of these samples did not
indicate the presence of any quagga or zebra mussels. Two of the samples, collected at the
Wahweap Marina and near the Glen Canyon Dam, indicated the presence of three individual
larval mussels when tested with the microscopic method and DNA fingerprint technology. The
testing methods cannot distinguish whether or not these are quagga mussels or zebra mussels,
which are closely related.
?Additional samples have been collected from Lake Powell and are being analyzed for quagga
and zebra mussels. In the coming weeks, more samples will be collected from various locations
around the lake to determine if mussels are present in other areas,? said Kitty Roberts,
superintendent of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
The National Park Service, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Arizona Game and Fish
Department, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been closely
working with each other to monitor the spread of quagga mussels since they were found in Lake
Mead in January 2007.
The National Park Service?s existing quagga and zebra mussel prevention program will remain
in place. Boats that have been in water bodies with known quagga or zebra mussel infestations
in the last 30 days will continue to be required to be decontaminated before entering Lake
Powell. High pressure, hot water decontamination stations are available at all marinas within
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, including Wahweap, Antelope Point, Bullfrog, and
Halls Crossing marinas.
As a preventative measure, the National Park Service will also begin requiring any boats that are
slipped or moored in Lake Powell to receive a decontamination wash before they exit the park if
they are being moved to a non-infested lake. In addition, people with boats in the marinas at
Lake Powell are strongly encouraged to conduct a thorough inspection of their boat to look for
quagga or zebra mussels which may be attached.
To prevent quagga mussels or any other aquatic nuisance species from being spread to other
lakes, all visitors leaving Lake Powell or any other body of water should thoroughly wash their
boats and trailers after they leave the lake. Bilges, wet wells, motors, and any other part of the
boat that could hold water must be completely drained. Any other gear that has come into
contact with the water ? such as waders or fishing equipment ? should also be washed. The boat
and all gear should be allowed to thoroughly dry in the sun for at least five days before being
used in another water body.
Detailed descriptions about how to clean your boat and equipment are available online at:
www.wildlife.utah.gov/quagga/pdf/boat_inspection.pdf. Further information about quagga and
zebra mussels and how to prevent their spread is available online at www.100thmeridian.org,
www.protect yourwaters.net, and www.nps.gov/glca.
###
Quagga/Zebra Mussel Test Results as of August 8, 2007:
Sample
Date
Location Microscopic
Results
DNA Fingerprint
Results
Number of
Veligers Detected
July 19 Main Channel near Glen
Canyon Dam (sample 1)
Positive Positive 1
July 19 Main Channel near Glen
Canyon Dam (sample 2)
Negative N/A* 0
July 30 Main Channel near Glen
Canyon Dam
Negative N/A* 0
July 30 Wahweap Marina, south
side breakwater
Positive Positive 2
July 30 Antelope Point Marina
Launch Ramp
Negative N/A* 0
* Note: The DNA fingerprint method has not been done on these negative samples.