Bureau of Reclamation: Lower Colorado Region - Quagga Mussels on the Lower Colorado River - Facilities Research and Testing

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Quagga Mussels on the Lower Colorado River
Facilities Research and Testing

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The Lower Colorado Region has been involved in research by Reclamation’s Research and Development Office, the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography in Savannah, GA, and Pisces Molecular, of Boulder, Colo., on early detection of mussels using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR-based detection helps determine if mussels are detected in a water body (lake or river) and what type of mussels (zebra vs quagga) they are.

The LC Region is also funding research designed to improve methods for detection of quagga mussel veligers (the free‑swimming, larval stage of the mussel) using cross‑polarized light microscopy. The research is being conducted by Reclamation's Research and Development Office in Denver. The Southern Nevada Water Authority and the National Park Service-Lake Mead National Recreation Area are also partnering in this research.

The Central Arizona Water Conservation District evaluated the hydraulic effects that pumping plants had on mussels, to try to determine why there is a low number of mussels present in their systems. RNT Consulting assisted the District with its evaluation, and determined that the lower number of mussels was not a result of altered hydraulics, but is likely caused by other environmental conditions.

Reclamation's Technical Service Center has also conducted several research projects associated with quagga mussel control. They include:

Webmaster: Colleen Dwyer, cdwyer@usbr.gov
Updated: February 2009