Invasive quagga mussel found in Utah reservoir

HURRICANE, Utah — State wildlife officers say divers have found what appears to be signs of the invasive quagga mussel in a Utah waterway.

Division of Wildlife Resources Regional Supervisor Douglas Messerly says a live, adult mussel was found in Hurricane's Sand Hollow Reservoir on May 21. Biologists say the mussel has the markings and characteristics of a quagga mussel.

The mussel will be sent to laboratories in Colorado for DNA testing.

Divers regularly search Sand Hollow for mussels. Divers found the mussel in a crevice between two flotation buoys under a dock.

In response to the discovery, wildlife officials now require requiring all boats and recreational equipment used in Sand Hollow over the past 30 days be decontaminated before launching in other waterways.

On the Net: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources: www.wildlife.utah.gov/mussels.