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Zebra mussels found in Pueblo reservoirBy D. Bruce Bosley CSU Extension Agent, cropping systems Colorado Zebra mussels have recently been discovered in Pueblo Reservoir in South Central Colorado. This Eastern European species has infested the Great Lakes and the Mississippi drainage over the last two decades, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage. This freshwater mussel can clog water delivery systems and is therefore a significant threat to irrigated agriculture, industry, and municipalities alike. Zebra mussels are prolific breeders. A female can produce 40,000 eggs in a single spawning, and over a season about a million. Zebra mussels usually grow in clusters containing numerous individuals and generally are found attached to rocks or other hard surfaces in shallow water. Zebra mussels attach to any hard surface including water intake pipes and water diversion structures and can become so numerous that they clog irrigation head gates, intakes of power generating plants, waterworks, and other facilities. Preventing mussels from attaching and removing attached colonies increase the costs of providing drinking and irrigation water, as well as water for power plants and industry. In the Great Lakes area, Zebra mussels have formed large mats, clogging cooling water systems for coal and nuclear power plants. They have also plugged fire protection (sprinkler) systems in factories and offices. Costs of keeping waterworks, power plants and industrial facilities operating after mussel colonization are staggering. Canada's Ontario Hydro spent $10 million in 1990 for chlorination and de-chlorination equipment to prevent mussel larvae from settling and attaching. The coal fueled Monroe Power Plant on western Lake Erie has spent over one-half million dollars for cleaning zebra mussels from its cooling system and expects to spend an additional $50 million for remedial work and pipe replacement. Additional economic consequences of the spread of these mussels into freshwaters of the U.S. include fouling submerged pumps, boats, nets, marine engines, navigation buoys and other underwater equipment. These mussels can have a disastrous impact on our commercial and sport fisheries. Since this species has few natural predators in the U.S., its populations are exploding rapidly, disrupting natural food chains, and threatening native fish and mussel populations. Zebra mussels are voracious feeders. Each individual can filter over one quart of water daily. They compete with small fish and native mussels for tiny suspended food particles (planktonic food). High densities of zebra mussels can quickly deplete the food resources that are essential to the survival of native fishes and other aquatic animals. Increased competition for food and space from these mussels further jeopardize our native threatened and endangered freshwater mussel species, which are already under severe stress from water pollution, habitat loss, and reproductive failure. Unfortunately, once established in a watershed, there are no practical ways to eradicate the zebra mussel. Controlling its spread is possible with concerted public and private effort. Many governmental agencies are helping by monitoring Colorado's waters and providing information to boaters and all water users on how to keep from spreading zebra mussels attached to boats, clothing and equipment to other lakes and watersheds. Regional efforts conducted in other areas of the United States have slowed the spread of this pest. Please contact me, Bruce Bosley, about this or other cropping systems or natural resources topics at 970-522-3200, extension 285 in Sterling or 970-542-3540 in Fort Morgan. 3/17/08 Date: 3/12/08
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