History of Mussel Prevention & Containment

Microscopic quagga veliger, photo at 10x magnification measuring 102.28 micrometers

NPS

 

Quagga mussels cover rocks that were underwater, now exposed, near Blue Notch.

NPS

Mussel larvae, or veligers, were first confirmed in Lake Powell in late 2012 after routine water monitoring tests discovered mussel DNA in water samples taken from the vicinity of Antelope Point and the Glen Canyon Dam. Adult mussels were first reported in March 2013 when a local marine services business discovered 4 adult mussels on a boat that had been pulled for service. Adult mussels continue to be found on moored boats and marina structures at Wahweap and Antelope Point Marinas. Adult mussels have also been found attached to submerged canyon walls in and around Wahweap Bay and on a fixed wheel gate on the Glen Canyon Dam. The majority of mussels found are in groupings of small clusters. Some southern lake areas have continuous carpeting of adult mussels. Adult mussels are being found near Bullfrog Basin and Halls Crossing Marinas, but in lower densities, typically existing as individual isolated adults. The mussel population has colonized practically all areas of the lake, as indicated by recent water sampling for veligers. Adult mussels have also been found in the river below Glen Canyon Dam; the source of these mussels is Lake Powell veligers passing through the dam.

Continued mussel education and prevention activities will minimize the chances that mussels will be transported to colonize other lakes and prevent the introduction of other aquatic invasive species to Glen Canyon waters.

 

Quagga and Zebra Mussel Timeline at Glen Canyon

1998: Scientists predict Lake Powell will be the first western body of water infested with zebra or quagga mussels.
1999: Glen Canyon begins risk assessment and monitoring efforts. Boat trailer license plates from infested states were counted in parking lots. Visual monitoring efforts include looking for quagga or zebra mussels on buoys, docks, and other underwater objects.
2000: Glen Canyon NRA begins screening boats at entrance stations to determine which boats are a risk for spreading mussels. High-risk boats are asked to undergo a free, voluntary decontamination. ARAMARK begins offering free hot water boat decontaminations at Wahweap, Bullfrog, and Halls Crossing marinas to prevent mussels from infesting Lake Powell.
2002: The first documented boat with adult mussels attached is found and decontaminated at Lake Powell. Monitoring for invasive mussels in Lake Powell was improved with 9-15 artificial substrate samplers continuously maintained at marina areas lake-wide.
2003: Glen Canyon requires any vessels coming from quagga or zebra mussel infested waters within 30 days to be decontaminated before launching in Lake Powell. Vessels which have not been cleaned, drained, and completely dried before arriving at Lake Powell are required to undergo decontamination. Decontamination is no longer voluntary.
2005: Antelope Point Marina opens and begins offering hot water boat washes to prevent quagga or zebra mussels from infesting Lake Powell. Lake Mead becomes infested with quagga mussels that will not be discovered until 2007.
2007: Quagga mussels are detected for the first time west of the Rocky Mountains in Lake Mead. Glen Canyon requires all vessels to be certified "MUSSEL FREE" prior to launching. Water monitoring tests produce what is later determined a "false positive" result. Lake Powell is still considered mussel-free with no other indication of mussels found until 2012.
2008: High-risk vessels are required to report directly to the decontamination facility.
2009: Launch hour restrictions are put in place. Self-certification as "MUSSEL FREE" is no longer an option at major marinas (NPS certification required). Full quarantines of contaminated vessels are authorized and implemented when warranted. All vessels are screened before launching. Eleven watercraft with mussels attached are stopped from entering Lake Powell.
2010: 15,000 vessels inspected. 5,000 vessels decontaminated. 14 vessels with mussels attached are stopped from launching.
2011: 17,000 vessels inspected. 4,000 vessels decontaminated. 16 vessels with adult mussels are stopped from launching.
2012: Over 20,000 vessels inspected. Over 6,000 vessels decontaminated. 38 vessels with mussels are stopped from launching. Monitoring results indicate the presence of mussel larvae, or veligers, near the Glen Canyon Dam and Antelope Point.
2013: The first mussels are reported in Lake Powell when a local marine services business discovered 4 adult mussels on a boat that had been pulled for service. Subsequent diver searches found and removed over 400 mussels from marinas in the southern portion of the lake. Approximately 800 mussels are discovered and removed from canyon walls near the mouth of Wahweap Bay.
2014: Thousands of adult mussels are found and removed from canyon walls, the Glen Canyon Dam, boats, and other underwater structures. Boat inspections and decontaminations continue in an effort to minimize the spread of mussels to other parts of the lake and prevent the introduction of other aquatic species. The National Park Service develops new Quagga/Zebra Mussel Management procedures to support the ongoing management of invasive mussels in Glen Canyon.
2015: Over 150,000 visitors educated on launch ramps and in marinas about mussels impacts and regulations. Carpets of mussels appear on natural substrates for the first time in southern lake areas. Mussel reproduction detected near Bullfrog Marina.
2016: All of Lake Powell becomes colonized with mussels.
2017: Mussels become denser in northern portions of Lake Powell. The spring typical peak of mussel reproduction in the southern lake is lower than in 2016, potentially indicating that the southern population is reaching an equilibrium.
Present: Mussel monitoring of designated routine sites continues. Read more about our ongoing efforts on the Mussel Monitoring page.