1. July 30, 2019 Southwest Tribal Fisheries Commission Workshop
New Mexico Dept. Game & Fish Aquatic Invasive Species
July 30, 2019 Southwest Tribal Fisheries Commission Workshop
You do not have to be an expert on boats to be a good ANS inspector. However, learning some basic boat anatomy and terminology is very important to be able to communicate with the boater and other inspectors, as well as help you intercept infested watercraft. In this section we will go over some common terminology, propulsion systems, three categories of boats, unique features and where to look for ANS.

2. Zebra and Quagga Mussel ID, Biology & Impacts
This training module will provide Agents with the knowledge to identify zebra or quagga mussels, and an overall understanding of the species biology and impacts.

3. What are Zebra & Quagga Mussels? Where do they come From?
Freshwater bivalve mollusks
Highly variable color patterns
Triangular (Z) Rounded (Q)
Invasive Characteristics
Rapid Reproduction
Attach with Byssal Threads
Filter Feeding
Driessena polymorpha
Zebra and Quagga mussels are freshwater mollusks with two shells. Zebra mussels are more triangular in shape, while quagga mussels are more rounded. They often look the same, and differentiating between the two can be difficult.
Zebra and Quagga mussels have three characteristics that make them particularly invasive:
The ability to reproduce rapidly at exponential rates
The ability to attach using their unique byssal threads
The rate at which they filter feed and remove nutrients from the water column
Driessena rostriformis bugensis

4. Where Did They Come From?
Quagga Mussels
Zebra Mussels
So where did these invaders come from and how did they get here?
Quagga mussels are native to the Dneiper River drainage in the Ukraine.
Zebra mussels are native to the Black, Caspian, & Aral seas.

5. How did they get to the U.S.?
Transoceanic vessels from Europe carried larvae in ballast water and/or adults on anchors
Initial discovery of zebra mussels was in the Great Lakes region near Lake St. Clair in 1988
Initial discovery of quagga mussels was in the Erie canal and Lake Ontario in 1991
The introduction of Zebra and Quagga mussels to the US can be traced to transoceanic ships that carried veligers in their ballast or adults on their anchor. They were initially discovered in the Great Lakes region near Lake St. Clair in The initial discover of quagga mussels was in the Erie canal and Lake Ontario in 1991.

6. 1988
ZMs Found Alive
Watch how quickly zebra and quagga mussels spread after the initial discovery and introduction in the Great Lakes region. You’ll see stars emerge in the west where dead mussels were found on recreational watercraft.

7. 1990
ZMs Found Alive

8. 1993
ZMs Found Dead
ZMs Found Alive

9. 1996
ZMs Found Dead
ZMs Found Alive

10. 1999 ZMs Found Dead ZMs Found Alive
Stars are locations were mussels were found dead on watercraft traveling overland. The CO dot is on I-50 at a boat dealer.

11. 2003
ZMs Found Dead
ZMs Found Alive
El Dorado Res, KS AUG 03

12. 2007 ZMs Found Dead ZMs Found Alive
In 2007, Lake Mead becomes the first confirmed mussel infested reservoir West of the 100th Meridian.

13. 2014
Quagga mussels are proving to be well suited to western waters. Notice the red dots for zebra mussels out east as opposed to the green dots for quagga mussels. The quagga mussels have started to outcompete the zebra mussels in many locations.

14. 2015

15. Why Be Concerned? IMPACTS!
Prolific Reproducers
Clog Water Infrastructure
Ecological Impacts
Recreational Impacts
Economic Impacts
Social Impacts
Impossible to Eradicate
Spread Quickly
Mussels are bad for everyone! Mussels spread very quickly and once established in a water body they have catastrophic impacts to the ecosystem, recreation and economy.

16. Who/What is Impacted? Management = Recreation Watercraft owners
Swimmers
Anglers
Cornell University estimate economic losses and associated control costs caused by invasive species at over $200 billion
Water transfer infrastructure
Drinking water
Agriculture
Environment
Native species
Game Species
The effects of mussels cause billions of dollars to water and power industries in order to perpetually clean and maintain pipes and other hydrological structures. This cost is passed down to consumers who pay for power and water in states like Illinois. Boat owners must pay for costly repairs and replacements of engines and parts that get clogged with mussels.
Researchers estimated the zebra mussel infestation in the Great Lakes region has cost the power industry over 3 billion dollars.
Cornell University scientists estimate that economic losses and control costs for invasive species has cost the U.S. over 200 billion dollars.
Management =

17. What is New Mexico Doing?
2009 AIS Prevention and Control Act Passed
2013 Full time AIS coordinator
2016 State Game Commission Adopted Amendments to

18. NMDGF AIS Activities Education/Public Outreach Expos On the ramp
TV/Radio/Print
Social Media
Billboards
Early Detection
Routine water collections
PCR
Microscopy
Prevention
Decontamination
Inspections

19. 19.30.14.12 INSPECTION AND DECONTAMINATION PROGRAM:
A. Trained personnel may conduct mandatory inspections of all conveyances or equipment prior to entering, being launched onto or being directly exposed to any water body of the state.
B. All conveyances or equipment transported into New Mexico or registered in a state other than New Mexico shall be inspected by trained personnel prior to entering, being launched or being directly exposed to any water body of the state. Proof of decontamination may be used in lieu of an inspection at the discretion of trained personnel.
C. The owner of a conveyance or equipment that is greater than or equal to twenty-six (26) feet in length and will be transported into or within New Mexico shall notify the department aquatic invasive species program coordinator at least fourteen (14) days prior to the anticipated date of transport.
D. Upon completion of any conveyance or equipment inspection, trained personnel may require decontamination, re-inspection and additional drying time prior to the conveyance or equipment entering any water body of the state.
E. Trained personnel may affix a watercraft inspection and decontamination seal to a conveyance or equipment to serve as proof of decontamination or inspection. Conveyances or equipment with an intact watercraft inspection and decontamination seal may be allowed to enter a water body of the state without further inspection or decontamination upon verification by trained personnel.
F. The owner or operator of any conveyance or equipment transported in New Mexico shall remove any plug or other barrier that prevents water drainage, drain bilge lines, ballast tanks and live wells and take reasonable measures to decontaminate all equipment, compartments or spaces that are wet or hold water.
G. Trained personnel may not self-inspect, decontaminate or attach a seal to their own conveyance or equipment.
[ NMAC - N, ]

20. New Mexico Inspection Stations

21. Watercraft Inspections
Decontaminations

23. Questions?
Does anyone have any questions before we move onto the next module?