Threats and prevention efforts in Utah

Regarding Dreissenid mussels, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources’ protocol and classification system for determining affected waters follows:

(1) Not Tested or Negative: A plankton sample analyzed via a flowcam or cross-polarized microscopy followed by light microscopy shows no evidence of veligers or a water body has simply not been tested.
(2) Inconclusive: A plankton sample evidences a preliminary finding of veligers by a flowcam or cross-polarized microscopy followed by light microscopy, but cannot be confirmed by two independent PCR methods.
(3) Detected: A plankton sample evidences a preliminary finding of veligers by a flowcam or cross-polarized microscopy followed by light microscopy, and the finding is confirmed by two independent PCR methods. No juvenile or adults mussels are present.
(4) Infested: Juvenile or adult mussels are present and a preliminary species confirmation is made by two experts, followed by two independent PCR methods for verification.
(5) Pending: Sample has either not been collected for the current year or is at the laboratory being analyzed.

Our management protocol for waters classified as "inconclusive, detected or infested " will be to interdict all departing boats and make sure that education and decontamination occurs. We will continue to interdict arriving boats and provide an educational message and inspect those watercraft, but a focus on departing boats is important so Dreissenids are not spread.