Laserfiche WebLink
<br />created in virtually all the states with new infestations of these mussels. This is the cornerstone of the State <br />Parks program for Zebra mussels at Lake Pueblo. <br /> <br />State Parks plan at Lake Pueblo includes altering boating policies to provide additional control on the <br />locations for boat launching and creating a timestamp procedure for boats so that boats on the water longer <br />that would be considered higher risk for mussel attachment would be inspected by staff. All vessels owners <br />will be educated on the issue and told to drain all bilge and live bait well water before leaving the reservoir to <br />prevent the spread of larvae. Any boats identified as having mussels or any other increased risk factors such <br />as aquatic plants on them, would then be moved to a decontamination area where the boat would be washed <br />with a hot temperature recycling wash. Intensive sampling and modeling of population growth will be <br />conducted at the reservoir to predict concerns of mussel spread and growth so that we can adapt the <br />management to the changes in population size. <br /> <br />Another aspect of this project is to sample for zebra mussels at all the State Parks with boating, and provide <br />public education materials to effect an overall change to boater behavior in the state. Specific literature will <br />be provided to encouraging boaters to drain all water from their boats between reservoirs and inspect and <br />clean their boats voluntarily. In other states such as Minnesota they have shown documented results in <br />slowing the spread of these mussels and other aquatic invasive species from this type of public education and <br />sampling regime. <br /> <br />This project will require additional staffing, primarily temporary employees who would work in shifts to <br />cover nine months of the year at Lake Pueblo. Approximately 18 additional employees are needed and will <br />need to be supported by operating costs and capital equipment for the time period from April 1 to June 30, <br />2008. The equipment costs will include primarily the cost of portable boat washing stations, but also lights <br />and signs for inspections, educational brochures and radios for communication among the staff. The majority <br />of funding for this overall project will come from other sources. This WSRA funding request will pay for <br />the highest priority and most immediate costs. Approximately four times this amount is being sought from <br />other sources primarily for the staffing required for the following fiscal year. This grant would allow us to <br />have a response in place immediately before the temperature of the lake reaches the point where larvae are <br />being released (when the water temperature reaches 52 degrees F). <br /> <br /> <br />Discussion: <br />The application meets the Threshold Criteria and a significant number of the Statewide Evaluation Criteria. <br />The applicant did an excellent job describing the urgency of the need and the importance of containing the <br />spread of the Zebra Mussels. This is critical since the applicant is requesting $1,000,000 of Statewide <br />WSRA funds on an emergency basis. Since their arrival in the Great Lakes in the late 1980’s, the Zebra <br />Mussels have sustained severe economic impacts in the Mid-West US through their impacts to the water <br />supply infrastructure and environment. Learning from other States’ experiences, the Department of Natural <br />Resources, State Parks and the Colorado Division of Wildlife are responding to this reality in a proactive <br />manner to minimize the adverse affects this species can cause on Colorado’s water systems. State Park’s <br />rapid response to this issue will help in preventing the spread of this invasive species to the State’s other <br />watersheds. Colorado State Parks realizes that this funding request is significant and that other funding <br />sources have been secured and more is being actively sought. This request is approximately 1/4 to 1/5 of the <br />project’s overall budget out to June 2009. <br /> <br />As mentioned above, the project meets many of the Statewide Evaluation Criteria. While it is recognized <br />that the Zebra Mussel is currently known to existing only in Pueblo Reservoir, there is a strong probability <br />that this species would be dispersed throughout the State’s water bodies if no action were taken. The overall <br />project is a statewide project and has the potential to benefit all water users in the State, both consumptive <br /> - 2 - <br />