GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) – Colorado Parks and Wildlife has seen a decrease in zebra mussel veligers found in the Colorado River.
While there’s been a decrease in the mussel larvae it doesn’t mean they have been eradicated entirely.
“We have continued to sample and have not seen them. But that does not mean that they are not present there in the system. They are just extremely difficult to detect,” Robert Walters, Invasive Species Program Manager said.
A microscopic organism that’s hard to detect-that’s the trouble with the zebra mussel veligers. In July of this year zebra mussel larvae were found in the Colorado River at two different locations Highline Canal.
Walters also said the decrease in the positive samples could be due to colder water temperatures.
“Anything that I could say definitively would just be speculation. Some things that might be contributing to that is just changes in the water flow or even the water temperature, which may have impact on how much they may be breeding at this particular time of the year,” Walters said.
Since the mussels can’t be seen with the naked eye netting operations have to happen in order to pick up material for samples and testing.
“We are doing what we call a plankton tow. A plankton toe is essentially running a fine mesh net through the water. This allows us to filter the water out but collect and condense the plankton within that net. These samples are then condensed and sent to our aquatic nuisance species laboratory,” Walters said.
Once zebra mussels mature and get bigger they are extremely hard to remove from waterways and pose a threat to local fish species. Finding the veligers early is key for CPW in fighting this invasive species.
“Once they [the mussels] establish into adults, it can be pretty significant from an ecological perspective. They can potentially impact our native fish populations in the Colorado River, due to the fact that they are filter feeders,” Walters said.
Once fully grown adult zebra mussels can colonize pipes, screens, gates and filters in waterways. If left unmanaged zebra mussel populations may also impede water flows.
To ensure zebra mussel larvae isn’t spread across Colorado and to other states CPW said to properly drain, clean and dry all watercrafts.
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Publish date : 2024-09-24 20:14:00
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