01-11-2008, 11:17 PM
Friday, January 11, 2008 Invasion of quagga mussels a serious problem ![[Image: dave.strege.jpg]](http://www.ocregister.com/newsimages/columnist/dave.strege.jpg)
DAVE STREGE Register columnist
OUTDOORS
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Quagga mussels can grow up to nearly two inches, though typically are the size of a fingernail, yet they can pack a powerful punch to the environment and economy when they join forces.
Left alone, they reproduce quickly and in large numbers, and once they find their way into a body of water, there is virtually no way to eradicate them.
They colonize by attaching to piers, pilings, water intakes and other hard surfaces, and they can damage boat motors and clog water intake structures.
They can upset the food chain in a lake by consuming phytoplankton. Without phytoplankton, the zooplankton has nothing to feed on and dies. Without zooplankton, bass and crappie fry have nothing to eat.
"Even a moderate infestation can cause a 60 percent reduction in the fishery," said Jay Cowan, Lake Wohlford ranger supervisor who is on a San Diego County task force fighting the invasion.
"This is a real threat to freshwater fishing on the continent it appears to me. This is a big story."
It is a story fishermen and boaters need to take seriously, or there is no telling the potential destruction awaiting the fisheries of California and possibly the nation.
"We're in the process of spending $10 million over an 18-month period to control the spread of quagga mussels in our distribution system," said Bob Muir, spokesman of the Metropolitan Water District. "The amount of money is an example of how serious we're taking this issue."
No doubt, it is a very serious problem. Consider: The Department of Fish and Game reports that from 1993 to '99, the closely related zebra mussel in the Great Lakes area, where the quagga also first appeared, cost the power industry $3.1 billion with an economic impact of more than $5 billion.
Quaggas were first discovered in California a year ago at Lake Mead, where they were probably introduced up to four years before by a boater that had come west.
Since then the mussels have been found at, among other places, Lake Havasu, the Colorado River Aqueduct's entire 242-mile system, and at lakes Skinner, Mathews, San Vicente, Dixon, Lower Otay, Murray and Miramar.
Irvine Lake gets its water from Mathews, but the water is treated with chlorine before it hits the pipeline to the lake. Chlorine is an effective method of killing the veligers, the microscopic larvae of the quagga mussel that are free swimming and the biggest problem in spreading the species.
As a precaution at Irvine Lake, boats brought by anglers are inspected and sprayed with a chlorine substance. Anglers are also given a card explaining what they can do to prevent the spread of the mussels.
"We're comfortable with what we're doing, but there's a fear," Irvine Lake general manager Dave Noyes said. "Our fear is, if we get them, it would be from a private boater."
The lake is tested weekly. So far it is clean.
It isn't as big a concern at Santa Ana River Lakes or Anaheim Lake since both can be drained to rid the invasive mussel.
Several lakes in San Diego County are taking precautionary measures to prevent the introduction of mussels.
In August, the day quagga mussels were discovered in Dixon Lake, Lake Wohlford instituted a temporary ban on private boats, canoes, kayaks, float-tubes, trolling motors, fish finders and anchors.
Lake Cuyamaca followed suit and Lake Poway, which doesn't allow private boats anyway, banned float-tubes, private motors, anchors, bait containers, fish finders, floating catch baskets and all live bait.
Lake Henshaw is requiring private boats to be thoroughly inspected and rinsed with a special hot-spray wash before allowed onto the lake. Most lakes are posting information on the quagga to inform the public.
Like the water shipped to Irvine Lake, the water moving south from Lake Skinner is treated with chlorine, something the MWD is finding effective. Alternative methods for controlling the spread are being vigorously pursued by various agencies.
In the meantime, the public is being urged to take part in the process.
"We all have a role in stopping the spread," Muir said.
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DAVE STREGE Register columnistOUTDOORS
[url "mailto:dstrege@ocregister.com"]dstrege@ocregister.com [/url] [url "http://www.ocregister.com/sports/lake-water-quagga-1957427-mussels-private#slComments"]Comments 0[/url]| [url "javascript:recommendReview('OCRArticle1957427')"]Recommend [/url]0
Quagga mussels can grow up to nearly two inches, though typically are the size of a fingernail, yet they can pack a powerful punch to the environment and economy when they join forces.
Left alone, they reproduce quickly and in large numbers, and once they find their way into a body of water, there is virtually no way to eradicate them.
They colonize by attaching to piers, pilings, water intakes and other hard surfaces, and they can damage boat motors and clog water intake structures.
They can upset the food chain in a lake by consuming phytoplankton. Without phytoplankton, the zooplankton has nothing to feed on and dies. Without zooplankton, bass and crappie fry have nothing to eat.
"Even a moderate infestation can cause a 60 percent reduction in the fishery," said Jay Cowan, Lake Wohlford ranger supervisor who is on a San Diego County task force fighting the invasion.
"This is a real threat to freshwater fishing on the continent it appears to me. This is a big story."
It is a story fishermen and boaters need to take seriously, or there is no telling the potential destruction awaiting the fisheries of California and possibly the nation.
"We're in the process of spending $10 million over an 18-month period to control the spread of quagga mussels in our distribution system," said Bob Muir, spokesman of the Metropolitan Water District. "The amount of money is an example of how serious we're taking this issue."
No doubt, it is a very serious problem. Consider: The Department of Fish and Game reports that from 1993 to '99, the closely related zebra mussel in the Great Lakes area, where the quagga also first appeared, cost the power industry $3.1 billion with an economic impact of more than $5 billion.
Quaggas were first discovered in California a year ago at Lake Mead, where they were probably introduced up to four years before by a boater that had come west.
Since then the mussels have been found at, among other places, Lake Havasu, the Colorado River Aqueduct's entire 242-mile system, and at lakes Skinner, Mathews, San Vicente, Dixon, Lower Otay, Murray and Miramar.
Irvine Lake gets its water from Mathews, but the water is treated with chlorine before it hits the pipeline to the lake. Chlorine is an effective method of killing the veligers, the microscopic larvae of the quagga mussel that are free swimming and the biggest problem in spreading the species.
As a precaution at Irvine Lake, boats brought by anglers are inspected and sprayed with a chlorine substance. Anglers are also given a card explaining what they can do to prevent the spread of the mussels.
"We're comfortable with what we're doing, but there's a fear," Irvine Lake general manager Dave Noyes said. "Our fear is, if we get them, it would be from a private boater."
The lake is tested weekly. So far it is clean.
It isn't as big a concern at Santa Ana River Lakes or Anaheim Lake since both can be drained to rid the invasive mussel.
Several lakes in San Diego County are taking precautionary measures to prevent the introduction of mussels.
In August, the day quagga mussels were discovered in Dixon Lake, Lake Wohlford instituted a temporary ban on private boats, canoes, kayaks, float-tubes, trolling motors, fish finders and anchors.
Lake Cuyamaca followed suit and Lake Poway, which doesn't allow private boats anyway, banned float-tubes, private motors, anchors, bait containers, fish finders, floating catch baskets and all live bait.
Lake Henshaw is requiring private boats to be thoroughly inspected and rinsed with a special hot-spray wash before allowed onto the lake. Most lakes are posting information on the quagga to inform the public.
Like the water shipped to Irvine Lake, the water moving south from Lake Skinner is treated with chlorine, something the MWD is finding effective. Alternative methods for controlling the spread are being vigorously pursued by various agencies.
In the meantime, the public is being urged to take part in the process.
"We all have a role in stopping the spread," Muir said.
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thing is that they have the ability to re-produce multipule times per year. There is no way the public could keep up with them by harvesting them.