CPW begins invasive species sampling in Colorado River
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — The Colorado Parks and Wildlife has started invasive species sampling on the Colorado River, a year after zebra mussel veligers were discovered in the water.
CPW began aquatic nuisance species (ANS) sampling efforts which consist of shoreline and water samplings conducted weekly along the river between Glenwood Springs and the Colorado-Utah border.
CPW said ANS technicians will use different techniques to survey for invasive mussels by targeting a different life stage of the pieces. Plankton tows utilize a fine mesh net to filter plankton from the water in slower-flowing areas of the river.
These samples are then sent to the ANS lab in Denver where they are evaluated by using cross-polarized light microscopy for the possible presence of mussel veligers, according to CPW. ANS technicians also conduct shoreline surveys by examining rocks and other hard surfaces where zebra mussels might be.
CPW ANS technicians, wildlife officers and state park staff will also continue education efforts throughout the summer at boat launches between Palisade and Loma. Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff will work closely with the Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Grand Valley Water Users Association on sampling efforts in the Colorado River and Government Highline Canal.
For prevention measures, CPW recommended people to clean, drain and dry motorized and hand-launched vessels – including paddleboards and kayaks. Parks and wildlife said this is critical to prevent situations similar to the one that happened at Highline Lake. The lake was closed and drained last year after invasive zebra mussels were discovered.
CPW also said anglers can keep their gear free of mud and plants between each use. This prevents unknowingly moving a species from one body of water to another or between different stretches of the same river which can create a domino effort of invasion with irreversible ecological damage.
'When we think of ANS prevention, we often only think about motorized boats and forget about other ways invasive species can be introduced or spread,' said Robert Walters, CPW's invasive species program manager. 'However, nonmotorized or hand-launched watercraft users, anglers and hunters all play a part in preventing the spread of invasive species. By taking the extra time to complete a few simple steps, you can help prevent zebra mussels, or any other invasive species, from spreading to other bodies of water throughout Colorado.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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