CLEAN DRAIN DRY

NOTICE - On January 6, live quagga mussels were discovered in Lake Mead at the Las Vegas Boat Harbor. Since that initial discovery, other infestations have been confirmed at Lake Mead Marina, Callville Bay Marina, Kingman Wash and at the Lake Mead Hatchery in the Boulder Basin. Outside of Lake Mead, additional colonies of quagga mussels have been identified at Katherine Landing on Lake Mohave and in locations on Lake Havasu.

Important Information

Protect Tahoe!  Boat Inspections Now Mandatory

Don't Move a Mussel - Flyer

Quagga Mussel Fact Sheet

Invasive Mussel Update from Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Quagga Mussel Discovery Timeline

Lake Mead Quagga Update Map

Zebra Mussel Fact Sheet

Websites

100th Meridian Initiative

National Invasive Species Information Center

Protect Your Waters

United States Federal Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force

U.S. Fish & Wildlife - Invasive Species

Divers have now confirmed the presence of quagga mussels at both the south and the north ends of The Narrows between the Boulder Basin and the Virgin Basin of Lake Mead. They have also been found on the face of Hoover Dam and in the Colorado River below the dam. Assessment programs are ongoing throughout the Colorado River Basin.

Quagga mussels are biofoulers that can obstruct pipes in municipal and industrial raw-water systems, costing millions of dollars annually to treat. Their presence can also have serious impacts on native wildlife, fisheries and the local ecosystem. And for the unsuspecting boater, these creatures can be the cause of some real headaches.

NDOW's weekly trout plants have resumed at Lake Mead locations only. The agency continues to work on protocols that will allow NDOW to move fish from the Lake Mead Fish Hatchery into other waters without the fear of moving a mussel.

Does the quagga’s presence mean you can no longer go fishing, swimming or boating in the affected bodies of water? No, that isn’t the case at all, but by taking just a few minutes to learn about these demons from the deep, you can protect your own equipment while doing your part to protect Nevada's waters from further infestation..

Even careful citizens can accidentally introduce harmful plants and animals into our state waters. Be aware of the problem and how you can help prevent it:

What's the Problem?

Outside their native home, some plants and animals can

• Clog our waters
• Eat our native plants and animals
• Damage sport fisheries
• Cause health concerns for humans
• Cause millions of dollars worth of economic damage

Be part of the solution

Boaters

• Remove any visible mud, plants, fish or animals before transporting equipment
• Drain water from equipment before transporting
• Clean and dry anything that comes into contact with water (boats, trailers, equipments, clothing, dogs, etc.)
• Flush your jetski, boat or bilge/ballast with hot sudsy water or a 5% bleach solution.
• Remove all hitchhiking plants and animals and place them in the trash.
• Rinse your boat and equipment thoroughly, including draining all lake or river water
• Air-dry your boat, personal watercraft or other equipment for at least five days before moving to a new body of water.
• Never release plants, fish or animals into a body of water unless they came out of that body of water.
• CLEAN DRAIN DRY

Anglers

• Rinse mud and debris from waders and gear after use, and let it dry as long as possible
• Do not reuse bait or transfer between bodies of water.
• Follow regulations regarding live bait; many invasive species problems are the result of bait releases
• Never release plants, fish or animals into a body of water unless they came out of that body of water.

Aquarium Owners

• Don't release unwanted aquarium plants or animals into our waters. Aquarium releases are a major problem in some parts of Nevada.

For further information on impacts of unwanted invasives, visit the Protect Your Waters website at www.protectyourwaters.net or the 100th Meridian Initiative website at www.100thmeridian.org.