Discovery of adult quagga mussel at Canyon Lake

[Delw]

Discovery of adult quagga mussel at Canyon Lake
could impact recreational and municipal water users

Jan. 14, 2016


PHOENIX -- In mid-December of 2015, personnel from the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program positively identified an adult quagga mussel attached to the hull of a boat recently removed from Canyon Lake, a major recreational lake on the Tonto National Forest.

Previous sampling conducted at Canyon Lake in October and November produced evidence of the genetic presence of quagga mussels near Mormon Flat Dam. Microscopic analysis of the October and November samples yielded a total of two veligers (quagga larvae). The findings suggest for the first time that quagga mussels are able to survive and reproduce in the lake.

Due to these discoveries, AZGFD will be ramping up its monitoring efforts at Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake. In addition, the Department will classify Canyon Lake as an AIS-affected water under AIS Directors Orders #2. Because Apache Lake is interconnected through a pump-back water system, and Saguaro Lake, the lower Salt River to Granite Reef Dam, the Salt River Project Canal Systems, and Tempe Town Lake are connected by moving water downstream, the Department and partners might also be classifying those waters as AIS-affected.

In addition, AZGFD will expedite plans to utilize 2016 federal AIS grant money to add personnel in the Mesa region and to purchase several mobile watercraft decontamination units. This will aid in assisting the public to “clean, drain and dry” – and especially decontaminate – their watercraft and equipment prior to exiting this area of the Salt River chain of lakes. These increased efforts are necessary to curtail the advancement of this highly invasive species to other waters in central Arizona and the rest of the state.

Quagga mussels colonize rapidly on hard surfaces and can ruin recreational watercraft motors, alter water quality for aquatic wildlife, and clog water intake structures such as pipes and screens, thereby impacting pumping capabilities for power and water treatment plants.

“The Department recognizes that finding one adult quagga mussel and indications of reproduction do not mean total infestation at the lake,” said Tom McMahon, AZGFD aquatic invasive species program coordinator. “But all recreationists and boaters need to remember to clean, drain and dry their watercraft and equipment after every use to minimize the looming threat of a full-blown infestation in this system, and perhaps statewide.”

Under Arizona law, boaters and all recreationists who take watercraft and other equipment out of waters designated as having aquatic invasive species must use the following steps when leaving that listed water:

• CLEAN. Clean/remove any clinging material such as plants, animals and mud from the anchor, boat, motor, hull, trailer, etc.
• DRAIN. Remove all water drainage plugs (and keep them out during transport). Drain the water from the bilge, live-well and any other compartments that could hold water. Drain the water from the engine and engine cooling system(s). You can do this by lowering the outboard, while on the ramp, until the water is removed.
• DRY. Ensure the watercraft, vehicle, equipment, or conveyance is allowed to dry completely before placing in another water in Arizona. Leaving your plugs out during transport will assist in ventilating and speeding the drying time of those difficult-to-dry areas of your boat.
For more information on quagga mussels, including the Director’s Orders lists of aquatic invasive species, waters, and statewide decontamination protocols, visit https://www.azgfd.com/Fishing/InvasiveSpecies. If you are in need of decontaminating your moored boat before transporting from an AIS-affected water, please contact AZGFD at (623) 236-7608.

this took longer than I figured.



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[Tweeder]

me too, I figured all 4 salt chain lakes would have had them by now.

[basman1313]

How about G&F stocks Gobys and a bunch of small mouth and calls it a day.

[redhammer]

Originally Posted by basman1313

How about G&F stocks Gobys and a bunch of small mouth and calls it a day.

Those sunfish at Havasu do a good job too; but like the SM thought.

[StickBass]

Originally Posted by basman1313

How about G&F stocks Gobys and a bunch of small mouth and calls it a day.

our g and f? theyd more likely drain the lake and kill every fish in it. restock it with nothing but 8" trout.

[lotsa luck]

Originally Posted by StickBass

our g and f? theyd more likely drain the lake and kill every fish in it. restock it with nothing but 8" trout.

Exactly!

[QUANTUM]

Originally Posted by basman1313

How about G&F stocks Gobys and a bunch of small mouth and calls it a day.

THIS !!!

[catchandrelease]

I`m surprised the Gizzard shad have not moved down stream from Rosy yet.
Another invasive to keep an eye on. The combination of Quaggas & Gizzies could really put a hurt on .

[Roosevelt Mark]

Ok everyone, time to move out of state. Bye!

[ThereHeIs]

Originally Posted by catchandrelease

I`m surprised the Gizzard shad have not moved down stream from Rosy yet.
Another invasive to keep an eye on. The combination of Quaggas & Gizzies could really put a hurt on .

Gizzard shad have been in the entire salt chain for a while.

[catchandrelease]

Originally Posted by ThereHeIs

Gizzard shad have been in the entire salt chain for a while.

I know Threadfin shad have been there dam near forever.
I have never heard of any of the lakes below Rosy with Gizzards.
Anyone else hear of them below Rosy ?

[Z-Man]

http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/20...oosevelt-lake/

Looks like the G & F have found them in apache.

[basman1313]

Originally Posted by catchandrelease

I know Threadfin shad have been there dam near forever.
I have never heard of any of the lakes below Rosy with Gizzards.
Anyone else hear of them below Rosy ?

No sir.

And since Rosie has been so low, I would be surprised if they have released any water out of it. Short of water release, I don't know how the shad would move down river.

[Jones]

Game and Fish has found gizzard shad in their fish surveys at Apache and Canyon. They are most likely in Saguaro too but we haven't surveyed it yet. I believe the Saguaro survey is coming up this year or maybe next year.

[catchandrelease]

[QUOTE=basman1313;1765450]No sir.

And since Rosie has been so low, I would be surprised if they have released any water out of it. Short of water release, I don't know how the shad would move down river.[/QUOT

basman , they always let water out of Rosy even when it got down to 12% capacity. It doesn`t flow over the top of the dam dude !