Research and Development Office

Factors Limiting Invasive Mussel Establishment at Salt River Project Reservoirs

Project ID: 21086
Principal Investigator: Sherri Pucherelli
Research Topic: Invasive Species
Funded Fiscal Years: 2021, 2022 and 2023
Keywords: None

Research Question

The goal of this project is to collect and analyze water chemistry, hydrology, geology, phytoplankton, and zooplankton data from Bartlett, Roosevelt, Apache, Canyon, and Saguaro Reservoirs, and Granite Reef Dam Forebay to identify habitat variables that may be limiting mussel establishment at Bartlett and Roosevelt Reservoirs and may be influencing sudden declines in mussel populations at infested reservoirs. This research project will provide information that can be included in invasive mussel risk assessments that will be utilized by Federal and State resource managers to determine which water bodies are prioritized for monitoring and boat inspections.

Need and Benefit

Invasive mussel populations have not spread as rapidly in the western United States as they have in the East and there is a need to better understand the limiting factors to assist managers with allocating resources for management. Defining habitat suitability is a difficult task and investigating the situation on SRP reservoirs provides a unique opportunity. This project complements an existing project (Project ID 19134), titled "Refining Quagga Habitat Suitability Models".

Contributing Partners

Contact the Principal Investigator for information about partners.

Research Products

Please contact research@usbr.gov about research products related to this project.

---

Return to Research Projects