September 15, 2009 -- Ever since the invasive quagga mussel was found in Lake Mead, there has been a constant threat of quagga mussels extending their range into the Grand Canyon. The most common way that the mussels spread is by human-related activities. The mussels attach themselves to hard surfaces and can live out of water for extended periods of time. The mussel larvae can also be transported by water trapped in bilges, hulls, or equipment that holds water. The mussels are very prolific, they can release up to one million fertilized eggs in a year and live 3-5 years. The mussel’s primary food source is algae. One mussel can filter one liter of water per day. This can lead to drastic problems for the native organisms’ food chain.
The mussels were first spotted in Lake Mead on January 6, 2007 and up until this point have not been found in the Grand Canyon. One of the main reasons the mussels have not moved into Grand Canyon is the effort the Grand Canyon Commercial River Outfitters have put forth. Many of the Grand Canyon outfitters end their trips at South Cove on Lake Mead. Then, these rafts are launched less than a week later on the Colorado River at Lee’s Ferry, which is the starting point for all Grand Canyon rafting trips. In order to keep the mussels from spreading, all of the rafting equipment that comes in contact with the Colorado River below Separation Canyon, which is the historic start of Lake Mead, is high pressure washed at 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Colorado River & Trail Expeditions, one of the Grand Canyon Outfitters, claims the extra precautions add time to their river clean up, but the effort is minimal compared to saving the Grand Canyon. They use a custom hoist to lift their 37’ rafts in the air. Then the top, bottom, and sides of the rafts are washed with the heated pressure washer. They also un-roll their deflated side-tubes, inflate them, and pressure wash them. Finally, they flush their outboard motors with 140-degree water, and pressure wash all miscellaneous equipment that comes in contact with the river below Separation Canyon.
The quagga mussels were first discovered in the United States in Lake Saint Clair, Michigan in 1988. These exotic mussels were believed to have been brought to the United States by ocean going ships. The quagga mussel is native to the Dnieper River drainage of the Ukraine. The mussel has no predators in North America, but some fish and diving ducks in other locations eat them. The mussels become a nuisance once they become established. They tend to form colonies that blanket the lake floor, cover water intakes, and clog boat engines cooling systems. The affect a quagga mussel invasion could have on the ecological balance of the Grand Canyon could be catastrophic.
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