Nevada's waterways are under attack from invaders so tiny you could miss them. That is, until they've clogged your water pipes and cost millions to remove.
What's happening?
Officials are sounding the alarm over a new aquatic threat creeping closer to Nevada's Lake Mead.
After invasive zebra mussels were recently discovered in the upper Colorado River, experts warn that the fast-reproducing shellfish could soon infiltrate the iconic Nevada waterway and devastate its ecosystem.
These thumbnail-sized invaders attach to nearly any surface, including boat hulls and intake pipes. From there, they form dense colonies that clog infrastructure and choke out native species.
The mussels have already caused billions of dollars in damage across the United States, and experts are warning that their move to the West Coast could be catastrophic.
"A little bit of prevention can go a long way," said University of Nevada researcher Sudeep Chandra, who has studied the mussels' impacts on Western lakes.
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Why is this infestation important?
Once they are established, zebra mussels are nearly impossible to remove. They multiply rapidly and disrupt entire food webs by consuming nutrients that native fish and plants depend on.
The negatives even extend to human infrastructure. The mussels can cripple hydroelectric facilities, block drinking-water systems, and damage boats, costing millions each year in maintenance and control.
To make matters worse, 90% of the region's water is pulled from Lake Mead. Even just a small infestation could threaten supply lines and increase treatment costs.
Looking beyond the impending Lake Mead infestation, the loss of native species and the degradation of water infrastructure hinder progress toward cleaner, safer communities and healthy ecosystems.
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Extremely 😫 What's being done about the invasion?
Nevada's wildlife agencies and water managers are ramping up prevention. Boat inspection programs at Lake Mead and Lake Mohave have already intercepted hundreds of contaminated or high-risk vessels.
Plus, officials are also expanding DNA monitoring to detect new infestations early and using chloramine treatments to keep invasive mussels from colonizing water infrastructure.
For the issue of invasive species more broadly, conservationists and agencies are doubling down on prevention. Across the country, officials have urged communities to consume invasive species to control the population.
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