How Utah Is Fighting Invasive Species At Lake Powell

During the busy Labor Day weekend, Utah Department of Natural Resources officers, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources technicians, and partner agencies ramped up inspections and decontaminations to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species at Lake Powell and beyond. These efforts target destructive quagga mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil, both of which threaten Utah’s waterways and infrastructure.

From Friday through Monday, 11,627 boats were inspected statewide, with 1,499 of those taking place at Lake Powell. Crews also performed 148 decontaminations across Utah, including 25 at Powell. Officials say the reservoir remains a focal point in the fight against quagga mussels because of the high volume of boat traffic and its history of mussel infestation.

Boat Inspection by DWR employee at Lake Powell / DWR

Two Of Utah's Dip Tanks Are For Decontamination Are At Lake Powell

Dip tanks have proven to be an especially valuable tool in this effort. The system allows complex watercraft to be decontaminated quickly and thoroughly, free of charge. Lake Powell hosts two of Utah’s five dip tanks, with one installed at Wahweap Marina’s Stateline Launch Ramp in 2021 and another added at Bullfrog Marina in May 2024. “More than two-thirds of the total decontaminations performed over the holiday weekend were done by one of our dip tanks,” Utah Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Aquatic Invasive Species Statewide Operations Lt. Bruce Johnson said in a press release. “They have been an important tool in increasing the efficiency of the decontaminations, and we are grateful that boaters are using them.”

Without intervention, quagga mussels can clog water delivery systems, foul boat engines, devastate fish populations, and litter beaches with sharp, smelly shells. Similarly, Eurasian watermilfoil forms dense mats that choke out native species, clog irrigation pipes, and damage boat propellers.

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Boaters are reminded to complete the mussel-aware program, pay required fees, and follow drain plug regulations. More information and a list of statewide inspection and decontamination stations are available at the STD of the Sea website.

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Gallery Credit: Stryker