Nevadan guilty of spreading mussels

PAGE, Ariz. — A Nevada man has become the first person to be found guilty of violating regulations adopted to prevent the spread of invasive mussels at Lake Powell.

Jonny Ward has been ordered by a federal magistrate to pay a $2,500 fine for failing to have his boat inspected for quagga mussels before launching it on the lake.

Officials at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area have implemented regulations mandating inspections for "at-risk" boats entering Lake Powell. Ward visited Glen Canyon on Aug. 17 and was told by park staff that an inspection for quagga and zebra mussels was mandatory, according to the National Park Service.

Park staff said Ward ignored the information and launched his boat from Lone Rock Beach. He was issued a citation, took the case to court and was convicted on Oct. 19 of violating the regulation.

Zebra and quagga mussels are aquatic invasive species that can lead to severe economic and environmental consequences for lakes and other waterways.

To date, zebra mussels have been detected in Electric Lake in Emery County and quagga mussels have been detected in Red Fleet Reservoir in Uintah County. Test results for five other Utah bodies of water are pending. Neither mussel species has been detected in Lake Powell.