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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. Education and laws

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

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. Statewide Interdiction numbers
* Success story of Deer Creek Reservoir delisting

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.