“Be a pain in the ANS”— Colorado’s fight against invasive mussels
When most people hear the word “mussel,” they probably think of seafood, not a growing environmental threat. But in Colorado, state officials are urging the public to pay attention to a different kind of mussel entirely: invasive freshwater species that can multiply rapidly, disrupt aquatic ecosystems, and damage critical water infrastructure. Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) aquatic nuisance species program focuses on preventing the spread of invasive organisms like zebra mussels, quagga mussels, and golden mussels. Zebra and quagga mussels have been present in the United States since the late 1980s, while golden mussels were first detected in California in 2024 and are spreading there quickly. Golden mussels are not currently known to be in Colorado, but officials say the threat is real.
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