Lake Elsinore Quagga Mussel

For additional information call the county department of water resources at 707 263 2344.

Lake elsinore quagga mussel. Transferring a boat from an infested water to another water could spread the mussels. Lake elsinore is not infested with the quagga mussel and we need the public s help to keep the lake free of this invasive species. But recently it has been reported in the press enterprise that the santa ana river which is piped to lake perris has shown larvae. However because of the lake s low water levels along with an increase in the presence of quagga mussels more boaters are leaving lake powell with mussels attached to their vessels.

At this time there has been no confirmed detection of quagga mussels or zebra mussels in either lake elsinore or canyon lake. The shell has a rounded carina and a convex ventral side. Since the initial sighting the quagga mussel has spread to most parts of lakes mead and mohave causing concern for boaters and water based equipment like water buoys underwater archeological sites and structures. The quagga mussel shell is generally black yellow and or zig zagged.

Those waters include the entire colorado river and its aqueduct system most of the lakes and reservoirs in san diego riverside and orange counties and piru lake in ventura county. Please inspect your boat before launching. For further information on the quagga and zebra mussel incident please visit the department of fish and game s web site www dfg ca gov. With the discovery of quagga mussels in pyramid lake in northern los angeles county this past week there are now 32 waters in southern california certified to have the invasive species.

However a large range of shell morphologies is seen including a distinct morph in lake erie that is pale or completely white. 6 2007 and later throughout lake mead s lower basin. The quagga mussel resembles the zebra mussel just as its namesake quagga resembles the zebra. Stringent monitoring by our community patrol has been underway since 2009.

Quagga mussels were discovered in lake mead in nevada on jan. Lake powell is a fun and exciting place for boaters. Invasive mussels can be unknowingly transported from one lake to another by boaters. The ongoing warming of lake michigan increases its susceptibility to asian carp in part by reducing the capacity of quagga mussels to act as an ecological barrier against the voracious algae.

Lake powell boaters are among the most heavily monitored water recreationists in the west because their crafts are potential vectors for invasive mussels infesting utah s largest lake. The lake mead national recreation area nra is not immune and in 2007 it was discovered that the quagga mussel had infiltrated the lake at las vegas boat harbor. The information below is provided as a courtesy by the state of california.