Wildlife experts still hunting for source of invasive mussels in Colorado River
Water users in Western Colorado are awaiting results of ramped-up testing efforts to control invasive zebra mussels after they were found in the Colorado River and an irrigation canal near Grand Junction. The mussels spread quickly, and can cause wide-reaching harms such as damage to irrigation equipment and disruptions to river ecosystems for native fish. Ongoing testing is aimed at finding the source of the young zebra mussel larvae and stopping them before they become fully established. “It’s really kind of looking for a needle in a haystack,” said Rachel Gonzales, a spokeswoman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.