NPS Photo

This is the lower unit from a power boat used at a testing area from Lake Mead. We can not let this infestation happen at Lake Powell!

New Invasive Mussel Prevention Requirements on Lake Powell

In response to the continued and growing threat of the introduction of quagga and zebra mussels at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, new requirements for Lake Powell boaters will be in effect during the main boating season of 2009. Effective Nov 1, 2009, self-certification of watercraft will no longer be an option at Wahweap Main and Bullfrog launch ramps and screening for the invasive mussels by trained personnel will be mandatory for all vessels. Trained personnel will be availale daily for screening from 7:00am until 5:00pm at Wahweap and Bullfrog. Launching will be prohibited outside of these hours. Violators face a mandatory court appearance, up to 6 months in jail, and a $5000 fine.

The monitoring of boats arriving at Lake Powell will be a collaborative and on-going effort among the partner agencies and restrictions may be modified as the threat of infestation is monitored. Keeping Lake Powell mussel-free is essential to maintaining the economic and ecological vitality of the resource and surrounding communities and region.

Boaters are encouraged to continue to help stop the spread of invasive mussels by making sure their vessels and boating equipment are cleaned, drained, and completely dry before moving to a new body of water, make sure that any boats being moved from infested waters to non-infested waters are properly decontaminated prior to launching. We ask for your assistance in this effort by calling (928) 608-6301, or 1-800-582-4531 if you see anyone launching outside the designated hours listed above.

New Launch Requirements Effective June 29, 2009

You are required to comply with Glen Canyon National Recreation Area’s zebra mussel prevention program before you may launch your boat on Lake Powell. To remain in compliance with Glen Canyon NRA's regulations your vessel must be certified mussel free. A mussel free certificate must be displayed visibly in the windshield of your tow vehicle. Recertification is required with each new visit.

Failure to display this certificate could result in a mandatory court appearance, up to 6 months in jail, and a $5000 fine.

How to Certify:

At major launch ramps, self-certification of watercraft will no longer be an option. Your watercraft must be certified by National Park Service or select concessions staff. Trained personnel will be available daily for screening from 4:30am until 9:00pm Mountain Standard Time (5:30am until 10:00pm Mountain Daylight Savings Time) at Wahweap and Bullfrog. The screening hours for Antelope Point will be more restricted than the other large marinas, but will cover core hours during the busiest times of the day.

At Hite, Halls Crossing, Lone Rock, and other remote launch locations boaters are still allowed to self-certify their vessels are mussel-free. Save time when you get to the park by self certifying that your boats are free of zebra or quagga mussels before you arrive.You may do this process online only if you plan to launch from Hite or a remote location. Click here to download a self certification packet.

Quagga mussels, a type of invasive mussel commonly referred to as zebra mussels, have recently been discovered for the first time in the western United States.  Mussels were initially discovered on January 6, 2007 in Lake Mead. They have subsequently been discovered in other lakes and waterways of CA, NV, AZ, and CO. In the meantime, the National Park Service's existing quagga and zebra mussel prevention program remains in place. Currently, Lake Powell is believed to be free of quagga and zebra mussels. However, zebra and quagga mussels pose a major threat to Lake Powell if they were to become established. Experts fear that zebra mussels could spread quickly through the Colorado River watershed and potentially establish themselves in other river systems.

Glen Canyon NRA Initially Announced its Expanded Zebra Mussel Prevention Program on March 30, 2007. Click here to read more. Since then Glen Canyon has further expanded its prevention program. In June of 2009 a newer update of the park's prevention plan was rolled out. Click here to read more.

What did Glen Canyon National Recreation Area do for zebra mussel prevention in 2007? Read this report (4.6Mb pdf) for more information.

What are zebra mussels?

Zebra mussels are a particularly damaging aquatic nuisance species. They are dark and light stripped freshwater bivalve mollusks that are native to Eastern Europe and western Asia. Individual mussels grow to a size of about 1.5 inches. They were first discovered in North America in 1988 in Lake St. Clair, one of the water bodies connecting the Great Lakes. It is believed that this invasive species was introduced through ballast water discharges from international shipping. Following their initial invasion, zebra mussels spread quickly across most of the eastern United States and Canada. Zebra mussels are inadvertently transported to new water bodies by recreationally boaters. They can be transport either as adult mussels that are attached to a vessel, or in any part of the vessel that may harbor small amounts of water that can contain larval mussels.

Zebra mussels cause severe economic and ecological damage. Zebra mussels are biofoulers, attaching to most hard surfaces including boats, docks, cables, and water intake structures. They form thick mats that may be up to 18 inches thick. These mats can contain hundreds of thousands of individual mussels. In western Lake Erie, over 700,000 mussels were discovered in one square meter! Ecologically, zebra mussels drastically alter the ecology of infested water bodies and may severalty impact sport fisheries. Zebra mussels are filter feeders and each animal filters approximately one liter of water per day, removing algae and small zooplankton from the water column.  When this occurs, the algae and zooplankton are no longer available to support higher levels of the food chain. Often, the sport fishery is compromised.

Tell me more! (Zebra and quagga mussel FAQ)

Join the 100th Meridian Initiative in its efforts to keep zebra mussels out of the waters of the Western United States.

Prevent the spread of invasive mussels!

If you plan to boat or recreate in infested waters, take care not to spread the mussels. If your vessel has recently been in zebra mussel infested waters, as identified in park information materials, you are required to get an inspection of your vessel. This inspection may require your boat be decontaminated using a special high temperature wash. Specialized boat washes are provided at Wahweap, Bullfrog, and Halls Crossing by ARAMARK and at Antelope Point by Antelope Point Holdings, LLC from 7am - 7pm. This service is free of charge at Wahweap, Bullfrog, and Halls Crossing.

All boaters should get in the good habit of cleaning their boat thoroughly every time they leave any body of water. 

When taking boats and equipment out of the water at any lake:

• Drain water from the motor, live well, and bilge on land before leaving the immediate area of the lake.
• Completely inspect your vessel and trailer, removing any visible material, especially mussels, but also feel for any rough or gritty spots on the hull. These may be young mussels that can be hard to see.
• Remove any vegetation and mud attached to the equipment.

Before driving away:

• Wash the hull, equipment, and any other exposed surface with hot soapy water.
• Clean and wash the trailer, vehicle, and any other equipment that has come in contact with lake water.

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 in the water and allow all fishing tackle to air dry for at least 5 days before fishing in other lakes and streams.
• Visit www.ProtectYourWaters.net and www.100thmeridian.org to find more information about zebra mussels and other aquatic nuisance species.

Glen Canyon NRA began a proactive zebra mussel prevention program in 1999. Through this program, the park has continually monitored for zebra mussel infestations in Lake Powell. Since 2003, the park has required all vessels identified as having a high risk of transporting zebra mussels to Lake Powell to undergo an abatement procedure.  Vessels identified as high risk are required to get a specialized boat and equipment wash before launching in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Glen Canyon NRA continues to be one of the leaders in zebra mussel prevention in the western United States. Through these efforts and the cooperatioon of visitors, Lake Powell remains mussel-free.