Invasive Species

Invasive zebra mussels have now infested at least 135 miles of the Colorado River, from the Utah border to Dotsero in western Colorado. And if these tiny pests flow into narrow irrigation pipes and tubes, they threaten to spoil the harvest of Colorado's sweetest crops.

Colorado has been fighting Aquatic Nuisance Species or ANS for years. Aquatic invasives are often small unremarkable invertebrates; it isn't obvious how much damage they can cause to native environments, human infrastructure, and biodiversity across the West.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff detected the larval stage of the zebra mussel in the Colorado River in New Castle in June, giving researchers a hint as to its origins in the basin.

Inspectors at Lake Tahoe recently discovered a new aquatic invasive species on a boat before it launched, sparking regional concerns. Officials say the incident serves as a reminder that people across the Mountain West should be on alert.

The mountain pine beetles have rebuilt their numbers amid dry and warm weather.

Quagga or zebra mussels have been detected in every state in the region except for Wyoming and New Mexico.