City of Powell leaders ponder possible problemsMany boaters and fishermen have been warned about invasive mussels threatening Wyoming's waters, but the problem isn't limited to outdoor enthusiasts. The Powell City Council recently considered the threat that the aquatic invasive species pose to communities.“It will affect us in four different areas: The irrigation of our valley, our drinking water, electricity plants and recreational activities,” said Bob Croft, a representative for the Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force.

Freshwater zebra and quagga mussels encrust hard surfaces, whether it's a pipe, turbine, bucket or boat. They soon multiply, wreaking havoc on the infrastructure they chose to call home.

“They attach in colonies and to each other. They like to find each other and start a little city of Powell of their own,” Croft said.

So far, Wyoming's waters are free of mussels. That may not be the case for long.

“They're going to cause quite a bit of grief in Wyoming if they get here,” Croft told the council.

Mayor Scott Mangold asked Croft if there is a way to prevent mussels from migrating to Wyoming waterways.

“I think it's a matter of time,” Croft said. “The question is — how long can we keep it away?”

Zebra mussels have been detected in bordering states, including Utah and Colorado.

Croft emphasized that mussels will impact Cowboy State residents if the non-native species infiltrate lakes, rivers or reservoirs in the state.

He read this statement from the Wyoming Game and Fish: “If you use water or electricity, you do not want exotic mussels introduced into Wyoming. These species can have widespread impacts on power plants, municipalities, irrigation systems and other water users.

“They impede water delivery and increase maintenance costs by clogging pipes, pumps, turbines and filtration systems — costs that are all passed on to the user.”

Croft said that cost could be reduced if mussels are detected early and isolated before they reach other water systems.

“It's money out of your pocket to fight it,” Croft said.

He added, “It's going to be an expensive adventure for all of us, I'm afraid, before it's done.”

The cost of invasive species in the United States amounts to more than $100 billion each year, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish.

Croft said he hopes the Wyoming Legislature will provide funding to help keep aquatic invasive species at bay.

In the approaching session, legislators will consider a bill that proposes new regulations and additional funding for the Game and Fish to fight aquatic invasive species.

If the bill passes, Game and Fish officials will be able to inspect watercraft vessels, require boaters/anglers to stop at mandatory aquatic invasive species checks and enforce penalties if individuals do not follow regulations.

Croft said that if the Legislature does not pass the bill, it will be tougher for Wyoming to combat mussels when they arrive.

“If it doesn't pass, then we're going to have to sit by and watch it happen, because it's going to happen,” Croft said.

Croft said education and awareness are the best ways to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

To raise awareness, Croft and other task force members are meeting with municipal and county governments, irrigation districts, rotary clubs and other groups in the region. Croft also has discussed news coverage with the Northwest College television station NWC-TV.

He said there will be local training sessions in the next few months to teach residents how to inspect watercraft for mussels and properly clean equipment.

He asked the mayor and city council for assistance.

“Any way you can help with educating the public in the next month and a half (before the legislative session) would be greatly appreciated,” Croft said.

Mangold said the city would provide a link from its Web site to the Game and Fish's aquatic invasive species site.

Croft said ideally, residents will become familiar with the topic so that it comes up in everyday conversations.

Hopefully, “if two people meet on the street, they can talk about aquatic invasive species,” Croft said.

Croft said a common misconception is that it's a problem only for boaters, fishermen and other outdoor enthusiasts. In reality, aquatic invasive species are a threat to all residents, he said.