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Don’t Move a Mussel — Now It’s the LawQuagga Mussels Have InvadedArizonaQuagga mussels are now established along vaststretches of the Colorado River and impoundmentson Arizona’s western border, including Lakes Powell,Mead, Mohave and Havasu. Mussels are in LakePleasant near Phoenix, Red Mountain Lake in Mesa,and are spreading through the Central Arizona Projectcanal, possibly into Salt River Project canals. Quaggaand zebra mussels currently are the highest profilespecies on the department’s aquatic invasive specieslist (A.R.S. 17-255 — Director’s Order 1), which alsoincludes: New Zealand mudsnail, rusty crayfish, giantsalvinia, snakehead, didymo (rock snot), red clawcrayfish, Asian carp, apple snail, largemouth bassvirus and whirling disease.Why are they a threat?As juveniles and adults, quagga mussels can attach toboats and other objects, grow shells and survive manydays out of water before reaching a new water location.Although quagga mussels (and closely relatedzebra mussels) do not pose a known threat to humanhealth, these mussels cause severe physical andecological damages and plague recreational boaters.They attach themselves to a number of surface types,including boat hulls, engine intakes, livewells, throughhull fittings, bilges, water-intake valves, canals, pipes,aqueducts and dams. This requires huge operationaland maintenance expense. In the United States,invasive mussels cost the power industry $3.1 billionin a six year period, while their impact on industries,businesses, and communities was an additional $5billion. Efficient as filter feeders, massive colonies ofmussels can alter lake productivity, fish growth andfish population balance.Check out www.azgfd.gov/ais for more details on aquatic invasivespecies Director’s Orders and boat decontamination protocols. Seealso R12-4-1101 and R12-4-1102 on pages 59-60.Arizona Game and Fish Department AquaticInvasive Species (AIS) Decontamination Protocols(A.R.S. 17-255 — Director’s Order 3)dAY Users: Any watercraft, boats, vehicles, conveyances, or other equipment thathave been in or on aquatic invasive species (AIS) listed waters for 5 days or less(lakes powell, mead, mohave, havasu, pleasant, Bartlett, roosevelt, saguaro;and Lower Colorado river, Lees Ferry and the Lower salt/Verde rivers).day-use decontamination protocols:Step 1 Before leaving the vicinity of the AIS listed water, clean/remove anyclinging material.Step 2 remove the plug (keep it out) and drain the water.Step 3 dry completely.LonG term Users And moored BoAts: Any watercraft, boats, vehicles,equipment, or conveyances that have been in or on aquatic invasive species (AIS)listed waters for more than 5 days.Mandatory decontamination protocols must include minimum dry times.Long-term moored Boat decontamination protocols:Step 1 Clean/remove any clinging material.Step 2 remove the plug (keep it out) and drain the water.Step 3 Physically remove all visible attached mussels.Step 4 Flush engine and cooling system with pressurized hot water.Step 5 Keep the boat out of the water and dry (desiccation) for a minimum of18 consecutive days during the months of November through April or 7consecutive days from May through October.Step 6 Completely fill out and file the required Aquatic invasive speciesBoating inspection report (AisBir). This form can be downloaded atwww.azgfd.gov/ais.Pull The Plug…OR PAY.IT’s The lAw.A propeller infested with quagga mussels.You must pull the plug when you leave anAIS listed water* or you may be cited.30 Arizona Game and Fish Department • www.azgfd.gov* See complete listing of aquatic invasive species affected waters on page 60.