New testing has Utah worried about zebra mussel spread in the Colorado River
In an unfortunate first, state wildlife managers say fragments of invasive zebra mussel DNA have been found in a stretch of the Colorado River near Moab. The discovery is concerning because the tiny striped mussels pose an outsized threat to rivers and lakes, clogging pipes, covering beaches with razor-sharp shells and damaging ecosystems. … The department sees the mussels as an emerging threat after an infestation was recorded near Loma, Colorado last year. And while detection of DNA in the water indicates the presence of an animal somewhere upstream, the division said it does not confirm that living mussels are present in the test area.
Related:
- ABC4 (Salt Lake City): Invasive zebra mussel DNA found in Utah portions of Colorado River: What does that mean for us?
- USA Today: Emerging threat discovered in Colorado River in Utah for first time
- Utah Department of Wildlife Resources: News release: Zebra mussel DNA detected in Utah portions of the Colorado River
