Preventing the Invasion on Your Doorstep Nathan Owens Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Utah’s AIS Program While we are concerned about several different AIS, quagga and zebra mussels are the big concern, primarily because of their impacts. If the CUP became infested, it would cost the state close to $30 million per year. Our program is designed to stop the spread of mussels, but as a result, we are also preventing the spread of many other AIS.

Utah Steps to Success Outreach and Education Boat Interception AIS Management Our entire program is dependent on being able to effectively communicate to boaters and other recreationists the threat AIS pose, what their responsibilities are as resource users, what they can do to prevent spreading invasive species, and finally, gain their cooperation in taking the necessary steps to make this happen. If we fail at any of these, our program will ultimately fail. Apart from outreach and education, another central component of our program is boat interception, which includes interviewing incoming boaters about the locations they have had their boats, assessing risk based on their answers, and then conducting inspections and decontaminations when necessary. In this way, the UDWR can minimize the threat individual boats pose for introducing AIS to a waterbody. AIS Management: sampling and monitoring for early detection, and when there is a detection, implementing rapid response and control plans to most effectively contain the AIS to a given area ** UT is one of the only states in the country to have law enforcement in charge of watercraft interdicition

Education and laws

Prevention and containment both begin at Lake Powell Three layers of protection

First Layer: Exit Inspections at Lake Powell No standing water or onboard mussels leaving the area! Decontamination of select boats Tagging of all boats and records of inspection/decontamination Boater education

Lake powell programs Local Boater Program Commercial Hauler Program Rental Company Program Private Decontamination Services

Interdiction numbers -- lake powell Year Interdictions Decontaminations 2017 51,000 2,500 2018 65,000* 4,200 * Does not include boats enrolled in local boater program

Statewide Interdiction numbers * Success story of Deer Creek Reservoir delisting

Constantly EVOLVING SITUATION at lake powell Floating mussels Mussels in sea strainers Every departing boat considered at-risk for mussels  long wait times for inspection/decontamination  dozens of quarantines throughout Utah

RESPONSES Revised inspection and decontamination protocols to account for mussels in sea strainers Additional staff and hours of operation Expanded outreach, including a letter from UT Governor Partnered with NPS and BOR to conduct veliger/adult viability study in ballast tanks

Did I mention it is constantly evolving at lake powell? 2019 has brought……. Rising water levels Mussel debris concentrated in marina areas Nearly 2/3 of all boats retrieved from downlake have mussels onboard And the associated responses…. Hot water “spraydowns” to remove mussels Narrowing decontaminations offered to departing boats Establishment of mandatory inspection stations on highways outside of Lake Powell

Preparation for the next surprise Permanent establishment of highway inspection stations outside of Lake Powell Engaging private industry to provide decontamination services Further research on mussels in ballast tanks Development of alternative methods for decontamination Automated data entry and risk assessment

Thanks to our Partners Central Utah Water Conservancy District State Parks and Recreation USFWS USFS USBOR NPS BLM FFSL Central Utah Water Conservancy District Emery Water Conservancy Districts Provo River Watershed Council Provo River Water Users Association Weber Basin WCD PacifiCorp Uintah WCD Many more ….and more in the future.