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As the summer recreation season moves into full swing, it is vital that boaters take precautions to prevent the invasion of a pesky intruder that could wreak havoc with Utah's vital water delivery systems.
We speak of the non-indigenous Quagga Mussel and 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 spread rapidly and are difficult to eradicate. They clog pipes and reduce delivery capacity. They also impact fisheries by competing for food.
Although mussels have been found in some Utah lakes, a rigorous public awareness and prevention campaign by the Utah Department of Natural Resources is apparently slowing their spread. All Utahns should hope so. A full-fledged invasion would cost the state tens of millions of dollars down the road to keep infested water delivery systems fully functioning.
KSL strongly urges all boaters to take the threat seriously. The mussels typically spread by attaching themselves to boat parts. More than anything else, watercraft should be thoroughly cleaned every time they're used. And boaters should gratefully comply with pre-launch requirements each time they enter a body of water.
The last thing Utah needs is a large-scale invasion of mussels.
