Zebra mussel protection at Dillon Marina
Effective immediately, there are new procedures for recreation on Dillon Reservoir to prevent the introduction of destructive aquatic invasive species identified as zebra mussels into Dillon Reservoir, the primary drinking water supply for over several million residents.
Zebra mussels and other similar species are a direct and immediate threat to Dillon Reservoir. The aggressive mussels quickly spread and can cause costly damage to boats and water supply systems. These invasive species also adversely impact the natural ecosystem of the lake, harming natural fisheries and degrading water quality.
The recent discovery of zebra mussels in Pueblo Reservoir has heightened concerns throughout the state. State and federal officials, as well as many municipalities, are moving quickly to prevent the spread of these destructive mussels. Many are considering similar inspection and cleaning procedures at Front Range lakes and reservoirs during the upcoming boating season.
The new inspection and cleaning procedures at Dillon Reservoir apply to all boats, except untrailered boats such as kayaks and canoes. An inspection and tagging program has been created to streamline boat launching and to minimize the inconvenience to boaters. Boats may be inspected and cleaned, followed by a quarantine or drying period. Experience in other states has shown that inspecting and cleaning boats greatly reduces the chances of contamination, but only a drying period will kill mussels.
All boats launched and retrieved at the Dillon Marina will require an Evasive Species inspection. Inspection station hours will vary during year depending on weather and time of season. We recommend that you check ahead with marina staff about hours of operation before you launch or retrieve your vessel.
These efforts are necessary to protect Dillon Reservoir from becoming contaminated by this aggressive invasive species and also preserving recreational use at Dillon Reservoir.
Thanks for your help in protecting this valuable water resource!!!
For more information see "News Updates"
Zebra Mussel Q & A (Dillon Reservoir)
- What are Zebra and Quagga Mussels and why are they bad for the lake? They are invasive freshwater mollusks (clams) that infest waters in large numbers, attaching to any hard surface. They can live for several days in moist environments and reproduce at a rapid rate. Infested waters’ ecosystems can be completely altered, damaging water quality and native wildlife habitat.
- Where do they come from? The Black and Caspian Sea drainages in Eurasia
- What size are they? From microscopic up to about two inches long-usually found in clusters.
- Why are we worried about them in Colorado? In February 2008 it was confirmed that Zebra Mussels were found in Pueblo Reservoir, heightening concerns throughout Colorado.
- If I am a Marina customer & didn’t store my boat at the marina over the winter, will I need to be inspected AND quarantined before being launched on Dillon Reservoir? If you kept your boat out of the water & dry over the winter, you will still need to be inspected, but the inspection should go quickly & quarantine will most likely not be needed. If you put your boat in any other water source over the winter, you will be inspected & possibly quarantined, depending on the water source.
- If I only keep my boat on Lake Dillon and stored it at one of the marinas over the winter, will I need to be inspected and quarantined? The boat will go through a quick inspection & then will be able to be launched. This quick inspection will help us to confirm that zebra mussels are not already in Dillon Reservoir.
- If I arrange assistance from friends to drive up to Summit County to help me launch my boat on a particular day, will I be able to launch that day? If, after an inspection, no mussels are found, the boat can be launched. If the boat is found to have mussels, it must be cleaned and quarantined.
- Can I provide paperwork from my winter storage company, showing that my boat has been out of the water & at their facility & forego any inspection & quarantine period? The documentation is helpful, but the boat will still need to be inspected, and should go fairly quickly if the boat is free of water.
- Once inspected, is there some type of confirmation that the inspection has been done? Yes, the boat will be tagged using a locking mechanism that ties the boat to the trailer.
- If I plan to come up for a weekend on Dillon Reservoir, will I be quarantined for a number of days before launch? Only if the boat is found to have mussels during the inspection.
- Is there anything a boat owner can do to ensure they can launch when coming up to Dillon Reservoir for a weekend? The boat owner can have their boat inspected and tagged ahead of time, if they have access to a facility that is using the tagging system and that facility is willing to do the inspection.
- Will I be inspected both before launch and when pulling my boat from Dillon Reservoir? Yes, this will help confirm that Lake Dillon is free from mussels and save you time on your next launch.
- Does my boat need to be inspected every time I go from one body of water to another? If the boat is tagged & the tag is in place before launch, the boat will be allowed through without inspection. If the tag has been broken, the boat will need to be inspected again.
- Do all boats need to be quarantined? No, only those boats determined to have questionable infestation of the mussels. The boat will be required to be cleaned and then quarantined up to 14 days or more, depending on the humidity and temperatures during that month.
- What is the purpose of quarantining my boat? A quarantine period is the most effective method of preventing boats from spreading zebra mussels. Drying the boats completely is the most widely accepted practice of killing the mussels.
- Do canoes and kayaks need to be inspected? No
- Do river crafts, ie: rafts, duckies, canoes & kayaks that are used on many different rivers need to be inspected every time they arrive on Lake Dillon? No
- Can I inspect my boat myself? In order to launch on Lake Dillon, your boat must be inspected by a certified Zebra mussel inspector.
- What can I do to help keep the Dillon Reservoir as well as all other water sources free of Zebra Mussels? Always CLEAN, DRAIN & DRY your vessel before launching on any water source.
- What if I see something that looks like Zebra or Quagga mussels? Report any sightings to the National “Zap the Zebra” Hotline at 1-800-437-2744
- Where can I learn more about Zebra and Quagga Messels? Visit www.100thmeridian.com