[D28] Lake Mead NRA News Release - Invasive Mussel Update January 22, 2007

[Schloemanb at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/23/2007 1:54:17 PM Mountain Standard Time,  
EHuntsman at azgfd.gov  (AZ Game & Fish Dept) forwarded::
 
 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.


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)

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