POA implementing program to keep mussels out of lake

The extremely damaging quagga and zebra mussels are a highly-invasive freshwater species that the Canyon Lake POA is doing what it can to keep out of the lake. These mussels colonize on both soft and hard surfaces and are known to clog water intake structures, pipelines, docks, and boats.

Many popular lakes and rivers (e.g. Lake Havasu, Colorado River, Lake Skinner, Pyramid Lake, etc.) are known to be infested.

The Canyon Lake POA is calling on all boat owners entering and exiting the lake and the community to inspect their boats for the quagga mussels when entering or exiting the community with their boat.

When leaving the community for fuel, service, or off-site storage those towing boats need to stop at the gate and request a service seal (white tag).

At East Gate and North Gate members may park in the temporary parking behind the booth and the gate attendant will apply the service seal. At Main Gate members can park in the Senior Center parking lot and a Road Patrol unit will be sent to apply the service seal.

Upon entry into the community, all boats without a service seal (white tag) will receive a red tag and will need to obtain a quagga inspection with Marine Patrol, 951-244-6841 x415 (certain exceptions apply, see rule LM.10.3).

To ensure a successful inspection, remember “Clean, Drain, and Dry!” Both boat and trailer need to be completely dry in order to pass.

These invasive mussels can live for three to five years and can release 30,000 to 40,000 fertilized eggs in a breeding cycle and one million fertilized eggs in a year. Since 2007, these mussels have infested almost all areas in Lake Mead, Mohave, Havasu and Pleasant.

Quagga mussels and zebra mussels are freshwater, bivalve mollusks that have invaded North American waters. Quagga mussels were detected in Lake Mead in early 2007 and are now found in several other Arizona waters. Zebra mussels have not yet been detected in Arizona waters.

Despite some minor morphological and ecological differences, both species are very similar and pose a significant threat to freshwater lakes and rivers. The quagga mussel shell is striped, as is that of the zebra mussel, but the quagga shell is paler toward the hinge. Overall, quaggas are rounder in shape, while zebras are more triangular and can be flat on one side.