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A worrisome scourge is on the verge of contaminating Utah's precious water supply, and aggressive steps need to be taken to stop it.
It comes in the form of the pesky Quagga Mussel or its cousin, the Zebra Mussel.
A single mussel can produce up to a million offspring per year. Once established in a body of water, they can wreak havoc with power and water delivery systems. They clog pipes and reduce delivery capacity. They impact fisheries by competing for food.
The Zebra Mussel has been found in Colorado's Lake Pueblo, while the Quagga species has invaded Lake Mead in Nevada. Although, young microscopic Quagga's have been found in Lake Powell, it is not confirmed they've actually taken hold.
The alarm bells are sounding and all Utahns, especially those who participate in boating and other water sports, ought to heed the warning. Since the mussel attaches itself to boats, Utah's Department of Natural Resources has launched an aggressive public awareness campaign. Especially, they are encouraging boaters to regularly decontaminate their craft.
KSL encourages widespread cooperation and participation in the effort. It is better to do everything possible now to prevent a full-fledged invasion, than to spend the tens of millions of dollars it will take in coming years to keep infested water delivery systems fully functioning.
