01-26-2011, 12:19 PM
CHEYENNE-- The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will host a series of public information meetings on how the public can help protect Wyoming waters from a host of organisms, collectively known as aquatic invasive species. Aquatic invasive species are non-native organisms that represent a very real threat to the state because of the ecological, recreational and economic impacts they can have on water, fish, equipment and as well as irrigation, industrial and municipal uses of water.
"Many of these species are harmful to our natural resources and threaten human uses of these resources," explains Mike Stone, chief of fisheries for the Game and Fish. "These meetings are designed to educate all water users and affected entities about what aquatic invasive species are, the threats they pose, what the Game and Fish is doing to help protect Wyoming and how to get involved."
Often called "nuisance" species or "exotic" species, they can attach to equipment, boats and clothing used in the water, and can be transferred on these items from one body of water to another. Any plant and animal can be considered an invasive species if it's moved to an ecosystem where it doesn't belong. But the Game and Fish is focusing its attention on two particular aquatic invasive species that are posing an immediate threat to Wyoming-- zebra mussels and the quagga mussels.
Zebra and quagga mussels are freshwater, bivalve mollusks that typically have a dark and white pattern on their shells, hence the name Zebra. They are non-native species, invading North American from the Black, Aral and Caspian Seas sometime in the mid 1980s.
"There are no known populations of these mussels in Wyoming to date, but they have invaded waters across the country and are now present in three of our neighboring states - Colorado, Nebraska and Utah," says Stone. "These species have had tremendous impacts to water bodies, recreation and even drinking water supplies in other states."
Annually, the cost of invasive species in the United States amounts to more than $100 billion each year. Heavy infestations of these species can alter aquatic environments by reducing food sources for game fish. They can clog water intakes on motors, overheating and ruining boat engines. Aquatic invasive species can increase the operating costs of drinking water plants, power plants, dam maintenance and industrial processes, all costs of which are passed on to the users.
"The Wyoming Game and Fish Department wants to work with other state and federal agencies and partner organizations now to prevent these species from reaching Wyoming," Stone says.
Game and Fish will continue to educate water users and update the public over the next few months regarding partnerships and efforts on aquatic invasive species, as part of their new "Don't Move a Mussel" campaign.
"Prevention remains our best defense against these aquatic invasive species," says Stone.
The Game and Fish will host meetings in the following locations. Some locations will offer two meetings per day.
Remaining public meeting dates:
April 21 - Casper: Casper Regional WGFD Office, Pronghorn Room, 7-9 p.m.
April 21 - Lovell: Lovell Community Center, 3-5 p.m.<br />
April 21 - Lovell: Lovell Community Center, 6-8 p.m.<br />
April 22 - Douglas: Converse County Court House, 2-4 p.m.<br />
April 22 - Douglas: Converse County Court House, Douglas, 7-9 p.m.<br />
April 22 - Cody: Park County Library, Cody, 3-5 p.m.<br />
April 22 - Cody: Park County Library, Cody, 6-8 p.m.<br />
April 27 - Cheyenne: WYDOT Auditorium, 2-4 p.m.<br />
April 27 - Cheyenne: WYDOT Auditorium, 6-8 p.m.
April 28 - Pinedale: Pinedale Regional WGFD Office, 2-4 p.m.
April 28 - Pinedale: Pinedale Regional WGFD Office, 6-8 p.m.<br />
April 30 - Wheatland: Platte County Public Library, large meeting room, 2-4 p.m.<br />
April 30 - Wheatland: Platte County Public Library, large meeting room, 6-8 p.m.
For more information, visit the Game and Fish AIS Web site or call (307) 777-4600.
"Many of these species are harmful to our natural resources and threaten human uses of these resources," explains Mike Stone, chief of fisheries for the Game and Fish. "These meetings are designed to educate all water users and affected entities about what aquatic invasive species are, the threats they pose, what the Game and Fish is doing to help protect Wyoming and how to get involved."
Often called "nuisance" species or "exotic" species, they can attach to equipment, boats and clothing used in the water, and can be transferred on these items from one body of water to another. Any plant and animal can be considered an invasive species if it's moved to an ecosystem where it doesn't belong. But the Game and Fish is focusing its attention on two particular aquatic invasive species that are posing an immediate threat to Wyoming-- zebra mussels and the quagga mussels.
Zebra and quagga mussels are freshwater, bivalve mollusks that typically have a dark and white pattern on their shells, hence the name Zebra. They are non-native species, invading North American from the Black, Aral and Caspian Seas sometime in the mid 1980s.
"There are no known populations of these mussels in Wyoming to date, but they have invaded waters across the country and are now present in three of our neighboring states - Colorado, Nebraska and Utah," says Stone. "These species have had tremendous impacts to water bodies, recreation and even drinking water supplies in other states."
Annually, the cost of invasive species in the United States amounts to more than $100 billion each year. Heavy infestations of these species can alter aquatic environments by reducing food sources for game fish. They can clog water intakes on motors, overheating and ruining boat engines. Aquatic invasive species can increase the operating costs of drinking water plants, power plants, dam maintenance and industrial processes, all costs of which are passed on to the users.
"The Wyoming Game and Fish Department wants to work with other state and federal agencies and partner organizations now to prevent these species from reaching Wyoming," Stone says.
Game and Fish will continue to educate water users and update the public over the next few months regarding partnerships and efforts on aquatic invasive species, as part of their new "Don't Move a Mussel" campaign.
"Prevention remains our best defense against these aquatic invasive species," says Stone.
The Game and Fish will host meetings in the following locations. Some locations will offer two meetings per day.
Remaining public meeting dates:
April 21 - Casper: Casper Regional WGFD Office, Pronghorn Room, 7-9 p.m.
April 21 - Lovell: Lovell Community Center, 3-5 p.m.<br />
April 21 - Lovell: Lovell Community Center, 6-8 p.m.<br />
April 22 - Douglas: Converse County Court House, 2-4 p.m.<br />
April 22 - Douglas: Converse County Court House, Douglas, 7-9 p.m.<br />
April 22 - Cody: Park County Library, Cody, 3-5 p.m.<br />
April 22 - Cody: Park County Library, Cody, 6-8 p.m.<br />
April 27 - Cheyenne: WYDOT Auditorium, 2-4 p.m.<br />
April 27 - Cheyenne: WYDOT Auditorium, 6-8 p.m.
April 28 - Pinedale: Pinedale Regional WGFD Office, 2-4 p.m.
April 28 - Pinedale: Pinedale Regional WGFD Office, 6-8 p.m.<br />
April 30 - Wheatland: Platte County Public Library, large meeting room, 2-4 p.m.<br />
April 30 - Wheatland: Platte County Public Library, large meeting room, 6-8 p.m.
For more information, visit the Game and Fish AIS Web site or call (307) 777-4600.