GSL Slip Renters and Marina Users
Furtunately, Quagga and Zebra mussels are not of a
concern to Great Salt Lake Users. They cannot live in our lake. Nor
can they be transferred from our lake to others.
(just another species who could care less about
this body of water).
But it appears other Utah lakes may be visited by
these very invasive mussels very soon. DWR recently tested 60 bodies of
water in Utah and had three positive hits. This does not mean that these
three bodies of water will develop full blown mussel problems but it is
possible.
Zebra and quagga mussels are the only freswhater
bivalves in North American that encrust hard surfaces.
They are invasive species from the Black and
Caspian Sea Drananges in Eurasia.
They may be microscopic or up to two inches
long.
They commonly have alternating lightr and dark
stripes, hence the common name "Zebra" mussels.
They usually attach in clusters and have
razor-sharp shells that can cut your hands and feet.
If your boat has been in infested waters, it could
be carrying invasive mussels. the primary way that these mussels can
spread to new habitats is on boats trailered by the public or by commercial
haulers.
an adult female zebra mussel can release up to
1,000,000 eggs EACH SEASON.
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources along with
USFWS are hosting the Colorado River Basin team meeting at Utah's Department of
Natural Resources on October 7th, 2008. The meeting will be in auditoriums
1040-1060. 1594 W. North Temple.
Bsides the normal folks who attend, Parks would
like to invite members of our community who are representatives of the sport
diver groups, SAILBOAT groups, KAYAK and SCULLER groups. Please encourage
folks you know who are associated with these groups to attend. Their groups have
potential to inadvertently spread quagga and zebra mussels, and they could help
out in the control of those invasive species.
Although most of you primarily boat in the Great
Salt Lake, some of you do transport your boats elsewhere. Your boat may
become contaminated and damaged before returning to GSL. Or you may
inadvertently transport mussels from one lake to another. So this may be
of interest to you.
Dave Shearer
Harbormaster
Great Salt Lake
Marina
Have you checked your docklines
lately?