hellwoman
01-23-2007, 09:23 PM
Invasive Mussel Update from Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Infestation Status:
On Saturday, January 20, NPS divers found live zebra-type mussels known
as quagga mussels (Dreissena spp.) at the Katherine Landing Marina on
docks and hulls of houseboats. The samples collected were positively
identified by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientist on Sunday,
January 21.
Katherine Landing is a developed area on the Arizona side of Lake Mohave
just north of Davis Dam in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The
scientist also inspected samples of suspected zebra-type mussels
collected from a depth of about 110-feet of water at the Kingman Wash
area of Lake Mead and confirmed them to be quagga mussels.
On January 19, 2007, NPS divers dove the South Cove launch ramp on the
Arizona side of Lake Mead and did not find adult mussels in the
developed area.
On January 18, 2007, NPS divers dove Overton Beach and Echo Bay marinas
on the Nevada side of Lake Mead and did not find adult mussels in the
developed area.
On January 16, 2007, concession employees at Callville Bay Marina found
suspected invasive mussels on four houseboats that had been taken out of
the water for routine maintenance and these were confirmed by scientists
to be quagga mussels. Callville Bay is on the Nevada side of Lake Mead.
All samples collected to date have been identified as the quagga species
of mussels commonly referred to as zebra mussels. See attached pdf map.
The week of January 8, divers from the NPS, Arizona Game and Fish
Department, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service inspected and found no
evidence of adult invasive mussels, at the following locations:
* Temple Bar marina facilities (Arizona side of Lake Mead)
* Cottonwood Cove marina facilities (Nevada side of Lake Mohave)
* Willow Beach marina facilities (Arizona side of Lake Mohave)
* Willow Beach Fish Hatchery (operated by US Fish and Wildlife
Service)
The National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Arizona Game and Fish
Department, the Southern Nevada Water Authority, and the California
Department of Fish and Game are continuing to work together and share
resources and expertise to assess the immediate level of infestation,
develop an action plan to stop the spread to other waterways, and
long-term planning and monitoring strategies.
"Our immediate concern is to ensure we are doing everything we can to
stop the spread of invasive mussels from infested waters along the
Colorado River to other bodies of water. Many boaters enjoy recreating
on all the reservoirs in the Lower Colorado River System. We need to
educate our visitors on the important role they have in stopping the
spread to other bodies of water," said Lake Mead National Recreation
Area Superintendent Bill Dickinson.
Effective ways boaters (including personal watercraft, canoe, and kayak
users) and fisherman can ensure that their boats, vehicles, trailers and
other equipment do not become the means of infecting other waters are
listed below.
When taking your equipment out of the water:
* Drain the water from your motor, live well, and bilge on land
before leaving the immediate area of the lake.
* Completely inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible
mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These
may be young mussels that can be hard to see.
Before driving out of the local community:
* Flush the motor and bilges with hot, soapy water or a 5% solution
of household bleach.
* Wash the hull, equipment, bilge and any other exposed surface with
hot, soapy water or use a 5% solution of household bleach.
* Clean and wash your trailer, truck or any other equipment that
comes in contact with lake water. Mussels can live in small pockets anywhere
water collects.
When you return home:
* Air-dry the boat and other equipment for at least five days before
launching in any other waterway.
* Do not reuse bait once it has been exposed to infested waters and
allow all fishing tackle to air dry for 5 days before fishing in other
lakes and streams.
Additional information can be found at the www.protectyourwaters.net and
www.100thMeridian.org.
-end-
Roxanne Dey
Public Affairs Officer
Lake Mead Natl Rec Area
601 Nevada Way
Boulder City, NV 89005
702.293.8947
702.283.2344 (cell)
702.293.8936 (fax)
Infestation Status:
On Saturday, January 20, NPS divers found live zebra-type mussels known
as quagga mussels (Dreissena spp.) at the Katherine Landing Marina on
docks and hulls of houseboats. The samples collected were positively
identified by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientist on Sunday,
January 21.
Katherine Landing is a developed area on the Arizona side of Lake Mohave
just north of Davis Dam in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The
scientist also inspected samples of suspected zebra-type mussels
collected from a depth of about 110-feet of water at the Kingman Wash
area of Lake Mead and confirmed them to be quagga mussels.
On January 19, 2007, NPS divers dove the South Cove launch ramp on the
Arizona side of Lake Mead and did not find adult mussels in the
developed area.
On January 18, 2007, NPS divers dove Overton Beach and Echo Bay marinas
on the Nevada side of Lake Mead and did not find adult mussels in the
developed area.
On January 16, 2007, concession employees at Callville Bay Marina found
suspected invasive mussels on four houseboats that had been taken out of
the water for routine maintenance and these were confirmed by scientists
to be quagga mussels. Callville Bay is on the Nevada side of Lake Mead.
All samples collected to date have been identified as the quagga species
of mussels commonly referred to as zebra mussels. See attached pdf map.
The week of January 8, divers from the NPS, Arizona Game and Fish
Department, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service inspected and found no
evidence of adult invasive mussels, at the following locations:
* Temple Bar marina facilities (Arizona side of Lake Mead)
* Cottonwood Cove marina facilities (Nevada side of Lake Mohave)
* Willow Beach marina facilities (Arizona side of Lake Mohave)
* Willow Beach Fish Hatchery (operated by US Fish and Wildlife
Service)
The National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Arizona Game and Fish
Department, the Southern Nevada Water Authority, and the California
Department of Fish and Game are continuing to work together and share
resources and expertise to assess the immediate level of infestation,
develop an action plan to stop the spread to other waterways, and
long-term planning and monitoring strategies.
"Our immediate concern is to ensure we are doing everything we can to
stop the spread of invasive mussels from infested waters along the
Colorado River to other bodies of water. Many boaters enjoy recreating
on all the reservoirs in the Lower Colorado River System. We need to
educate our visitors on the important role they have in stopping the
spread to other bodies of water," said Lake Mead National Recreation
Area Superintendent Bill Dickinson.
Effective ways boaters (including personal watercraft, canoe, and kayak
users) and fisherman can ensure that their boats, vehicles, trailers and
other equipment do not become the means of infecting other waters are
listed below.
When taking your equipment out of the water:
* Drain the water from your motor, live well, and bilge on land
before leaving the immediate area of the lake.
* Completely inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible
mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These
may be young mussels that can be hard to see.
Before driving out of the local community:
* Flush the motor and bilges with hot, soapy water or a 5% solution
of household bleach.
* Wash the hull, equipment, bilge and any other exposed surface with
hot, soapy water or use a 5% solution of household bleach.
* Clean and wash your trailer, truck or any other equipment that
comes in contact with lake water. Mussels can live in small pockets anywhere
water collects.
When you return home:
* Air-dry the boat and other equipment for at least five days before
launching in any other waterway.
* Do not reuse bait once it has been exposed to infested waters and
allow all fishing tackle to air dry for 5 days before fishing in other
lakes and streams.
Additional information can be found at the www.protectyourwaters.net and
www.100thMeridian.org.
-end-
Roxanne Dey
Public Affairs Officer
Lake Mead Natl Rec Area
601 Nevada Way
Boulder City, NV 89005
702.293.8947
702.283.2344 (cell)
702.293.8936 (fax)