7790

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7790
• Author: Tyus, H. M., W. P. Dwyer and S. Whitmore.
• Title: Feasibility of Preventing Further Invasion of the Zebra Mussel into the Western United States.
• USFW Year: 1993.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

There are many lakes, reservoirs, farm irrigation or for other purposes, these may be important for local
canals and other waters in the Western including emergency use of water to transport. However, the primary method
United States that are intensively fight fires. Such exchange of water of zebra mussel transport across the
managed for recreation, flood control, could conceivably spread contaminated Continental Divide is anticipated to be
power, and other uses. Examples of water between one river system and by boats, motors, and/or trailers. Because
these areas are State and National another. Another item of major ' there are so few routes that are available
Parks, National Recreation Areas, and concern is the transfer of fish or other for transporting boats across the
waters managed or controlled by the aquatic animals in water from contami- Continental Divide, it seems feasible
Bureau of Reclamation, Corps of Hated areas to uncontaminated areas. that some type of regulatory mechanism
Engineers, or other management Control of this mode of zebra mussel would be effective in stopping them.
agencies. In these cases, the launching transmission must be examined and Although inspection stations are not
of boats, fishing, and other human use potential quarantine programs generally located on the passes across
are under supervision. As a result, evaluated. the Continental Divide (due to
these areas are already equipped to unfavorable weather conditions),
exclude zebra mussels, and in many Natural vectors that might transmit cautionary or warning signs placed at
instances, zebra mussel exclusion could zebra mussels overland include turtles, ~ strategic locations on roads leading
be relatively inexpensive. water snakes, and other riparian or over the divide might be effective in
amphibious animals. This mode of reducing the spread of zebra mussels.
In addition to transport on boats or transmission may be significant for
other marine equipment, another major short distances, but it is not anticipated Some states already have statutes
mode of transmission across land may to be a major factor in western forbidding the transport of zebra
occur by transport of contaminated expansion of the zebra mussel range. mussels (for example Minnesota). Other
water. Many western areas permit the States that are especially vulnerable to
pumping of water from a stream or There are many available means economic damage are considering the
other body of water into a truck to be whereby the zebra mussel might be passage of similar laws. In California,
used inroad construction, well drilling, transported via land pathways. Many of the State Department of Water