Colorado Parks and Wildlife will give a presentation on the risk of invasive mussels to Colorado waterways on Thursday, June 8, at 7 p.m., at the Dolores Community Center, 400 Riverside Ave.
Aquatic nuisance specialist Robert Walters will explain the biology of the quagga mussel and why this species poses such a serious threat to water resources in Montezuma County and the state.
Colorado is mussel free, but is surrounded by states that are contaminated with the non-native species, which cause damage to irrigation and municipal water systems. They spread to other waterways via infected boats and engines. To prevent local contamination, trailered and motorized boats must pass through boat inspection stations before getting on McPhee Reservoir. Other local lakes are closed to motorized boats because they don’t have inspection stations.