More zebra mussel veligers found in Colorado River

By SENTINEL STAFF

Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced Friday that additional zebra mussel veligers (larva) have been found in the Colorado River and Government Highline Canal.

After increased testing, both waterways met the criteria for being considered “positive” for zebra mussels.

CPW initiated an Invasive Species Rapid Response Plan and increased sampling efforts in the Colorado River between Glenwood Springs and the Utah border, as well as within the canal, after the initial discovery of zebra mussels in both.

Through these sampling efforts, one additional zebra mussel veliger was discovered and confirmed in the Colorado River at two separate locations between De Beque and Grand Junction.

No veligers have been found upstream of the Beavertail Mountain Tunnel in the De Beque Canyon. No adult mussels have been found in the Colorado River or the Government Highline Canal.

CPW Aquatic Nuisance Species and Northwest Region aquatics staff will continue sampling efforts in Colorado River and Grand Valley canal systems over the next several weeks. These efforts will be through collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Upper Colorado Native Fish Recovery Program as well as the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, aimed at locating the source of the veligers.

“These results will help guide us on the next steps as we continue working closely with our partners to work on a plan to protect our natural resources and infrastructure crucial to the Grand Valley, including our goal of locating the source,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis in an announcement of the discovery of additional mussels.

From July 19-21, CPW partnered with local officials and the Bureau of Land Management to post signage and conduct educational outreach at multiple water access points, such as the De Beque boat ramp and the Westwater boat ramp in Utah.

Over three days, Aquatic Nuisance Species and Grand Junction-area CPW staff talked to nearly 600 people about cleaning, draining and drying their watercraft and equipment.

Earlier this week, CPW announced that it positioned a mobile waterless boat cleaning station in Palisade’s Riverbend Park near Harky’s Launch Boat Ramp on. Farther down the Colorado River, CPW also has a installed a stationary cleaning station at the Loma Boat Ramp.