09-02-2009, 11:10 AM
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.--As part of the state's ongoing effort to prevent the spread of zebra and quagga mussels, the Colorado Division of Wildlife will provide state-certified watercraft inspection and decontamination services at its Grand Junction office, 711 Independent Avenue, beginning Wednesday, Aug. 26.
The watercraft inspection site will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Inspections will be offered, free-of-charge, from Aug. 26 through Oct. 30, excluding Sept. 8, when all DOW offices will be closed due to state-mandated furloughs.
Colorado boating regulations now require all boats to pass a state-certified inspection for zebra/quagga mussels and other aquatic nuisance species prior to launching in any Colorado lake, reservoir or waterway. In addition, boats that have launched on any of the Colorado lakes or reservoirs where mussels have been detected are required to pass an inspection before launching at a new location.
The new regulations limit inspections to trailered watercraft. Hand-launched crafts, including kayaks, rafts, canoes and belly boats are not considered high-risk for spreading aquatic nuisance species and may launch without an inspection.
Zebra and quagga mussels, two particularly destructive aquatic nuisance species, were discovered in Lake Pueblo in January 2008. Subsequent sampling confirmed the presence of zebra and/or quagga mussel larvae in six other locations: Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Reservoir, Willow Creek Reservoir, Grand Lake, Jumbo Reservoir State Wildlife Area (Logan County) and Tarryall Reservoir State Wildlife Area. Blue Mesa Reservoir is considered "suspect" for presence of a mussel infestation, and monitoring and testing are ongoing. The National Park Service has implemented mandatory inspections and containment measures at Blue Mesa.
If allowed to spread further, zebra and quagga mussels could have devastating social, environmental and economic impacts on Colorado.
For more information on zebra and quagga mussels and how to prevent their spread, please visit the Colorado Division of Wildlife's Web site at: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpec...ussels.htm
The watercraft inspection site will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Inspections will be offered, free-of-charge, from Aug. 26 through Oct. 30, excluding Sept. 8, when all DOW offices will be closed due to state-mandated furloughs.
Colorado boating regulations now require all boats to pass a state-certified inspection for zebra/quagga mussels and other aquatic nuisance species prior to launching in any Colorado lake, reservoir or waterway. In addition, boats that have launched on any of the Colorado lakes or reservoirs where mussels have been detected are required to pass an inspection before launching at a new location.
The new regulations limit inspections to trailered watercraft. Hand-launched crafts, including kayaks, rafts, canoes and belly boats are not considered high-risk for spreading aquatic nuisance species and may launch without an inspection.
Zebra and quagga mussels, two particularly destructive aquatic nuisance species, were discovered in Lake Pueblo in January 2008. Subsequent sampling confirmed the presence of zebra and/or quagga mussel larvae in six other locations: Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Reservoir, Willow Creek Reservoir, Grand Lake, Jumbo Reservoir State Wildlife Area (Logan County) and Tarryall Reservoir State Wildlife Area. Blue Mesa Reservoir is considered "suspect" for presence of a mussel infestation, and monitoring and testing are ongoing. The National Park Service has implemented mandatory inspections and containment measures at Blue Mesa.
If allowed to spread further, zebra and quagga mussels could have devastating social, environmental and economic impacts on Colorado.
For more information on zebra and quagga mussels and how to prevent their spread, please visit the Colorado Division of Wildlife's Web site at: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeSpec...ussels.htm