Utah governor has proposed $405K in the FY 2020 budget to continue to fight to problem.
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PAGE, AZ (Dec. 20, 2018) – The partnership of the Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the National Park Service (NPS) and the boating community has set records in 2018 for vessel inspection and decontamination for quagga mussels.
The two agencies contacted over 200,000 visitors, inspected over 64,000 vessels, and decontaminated over 4,200 vessels at five primary launch ramps at Lake Powell. Additionally, over 140 boats were placed in quarantine statewide.
“We appreciate our partnership with the State of Utah and our boating community to contain the quagga mussel infestation to Lake Powell and to prevent its spread to other water bodies,” said Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Superintendent, William Shott. “In 2017, the Department of the Interior released the Safeguarding the West Initiative and we are coordinating with federal, state, tribal and private partners at multiple park units across the west on quagga/zebra mussel prevention and containment efforts.”
“Lake Powell’s quagga mussel situation is always evolving, which requires us to be nimble and proactive as we work together as partnering agencies,” said DNR Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program Coordinator, Nathan Owens. “This year we saw lower water levels, resulting in more boats having mussels aboard their vessels than in past years. By working together we identified these new challenges and allowed our inspection and decontamination processes to change to meet the increased needs.”
Earlier this year, technicians were finding quagga mussels on and in boats that had only been in Lake Powell for a day or two, something boaters hadn’t experienced in the past. As a result, DNR and NPS increased inspection, decontamination and enforcement efforts. Enhanced training was also incorporated to focus on anchor and sea strainer inspections and the flushing of cooling intakes and water systems. The adjustments proved successful.
Governor Gary Herbert proposed in his 2020 fiscal year budget plan an additional $405,000. If approved, new AIS funding will be used to add needed technicians and equipment to increase the efficiency of inspection and decontamination efforts at Lake Powell.
