Colorado Parks and Wildlife has provided an update regarding the discovery of zebra mussel veligers in the Colorado River and Government Highline Canal earlier in July, with the discovery initially being called "devastating" and prompting further investigation in order to determine the extent of the presence of the invasive species.
A July 26 update from the agency indicated that additional testing has resulted in more detections of the species, which is enough for Colorado Parks and Wildlife to switch the designation of both waters from 'suspicious' in terms of the presence of zebra mussels to 'positive.'
One additional zebra mussel veliger was found in the Government Highline Canal with two additional veligers discovered in the Colorado River at two separate locations between De Beque and Grand Junction.
It's important to note that no adult zebra mussels have been detected in either water source, with veligers being the microscopic larval state of the species. Additionally, no veligers were found upstream of the Beavertail Mountain Tunnel in De Beque Canyon.
“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.
Additional sampling is set to continue, along with increased educational efforts along the Colorado River, including voluntary watercraft inspections. A key way that zebra mussels – which are capable of depleting resources for native fish and destroying infrastructure – are transferred from one body of water to another is when water vessels aren't properly cleaned, drained, and dried after use.
It's crucial for all of those on Colorado's waters to make sure they're doing their part when it comes to preventing the spread of the invasive zebra mussel species. Whether someone is using a pontoon boat or an inflatable paddleboard, measures should be taken to ensure that no zebra mussels or zebra mussel veligers are tagging along to be transferred from one water source to another.
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