Tips for decontaminating boats from quagga mussels

Tips for decontaminating boats from quagga mussels

(Utah State Parks)


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DEER CREEK STATE PARK — In an effort to avoid spreading the suspected quagga mussels in Deer Creek State Park, Utah State Park officials closed the Charleston Bay boat ramp Wednesday and offered decontamination tips.

Juvenile quagga mussels were first detected at Deer Creek State Park Jan. 15 after DNA tests were done on water samples taken from the reservoir.

“Invasive quagga mussels are a major threat to our quality of life,” according to a Utah State Park news release. “They are small, clam-like creatures that reproduce rapidly and deplete nutrients in the water. They jeopardize power and water infrastructures, damage ecosystems and destroy recreation.”

Utah State Park officials said “the (ramp) closure is necessary to prevent and control the spread of aquatic invasive species from Deer Creek Reservoir to other waterways in the state of Utah.” Launching will still be available at the main boat ramp at Deer Creek Reservoir and the Island boat ramp will open mid-May, the news release said.

Officials said boats coming from Lake Powell or out-of-state need to be decontaminated prior to launching on any Utah water, including Deer Creek Reservoir. Boats that have launched on Deer Creek will also need to be decontaminated before leaving the park or launching on any other lakes.

Here are some tips from Utah State Park officials for decontaminating a boat:

Clean

Boaters should wipe all water, mud, plant materials and other debris from their boat.

Drain

Boaters should also pull all the plugs and completely drain the water from the hull. Then empty and drain the ballast tanks, bilges and live wells.

Dry

If you were boating at Deer Creek and your next boating trip is to Deer Creek, nothing more needs to be done. If not, you must dry your boat for 30 days (during winter months,) 18 days (during spring) or seven days (during the summer.)

Professional decontamination

If you plan to visit another reservoir within 30 days of visiting Deer Creek, request a free, professional decontamination from the staff at the boat ramp. The Deer Creek State Park decontamination station is currently staffed Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments for any other time are available by calling 435-654-0171. During the summer months, staff will be available seven days a week.

Utah legislators recently proposed having boaters pay a fee to help fight the mussel invasion.

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UtahOutdoors
Faith Heaton Jolley

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