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Zebra mussel looms on Standley Lake

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Contributed by: John Eisel/YourHub.com on 4/8/2008

Standley Lake is home to a diverse array of aquatic life, but city of Westminster public works and recreation employees hope a species new to the area doesn't make its way into the lake.

The zebra mussel, which originated in Europe, has migrated from the Great Lakes and was recently discovered in the Pueblo Reservoir.

The mussel looks like a shell that's about the size of a fingernail and reproduces at an incredible rate, would clog up the water inlet system, damage boats and other
watercraft, change the chemical composition of the water, affect the lake's ecosystem and leave a terrible odor when it dies, according to Ken Watson, regional parks and golf manager for the city of Westminster.

"It's a three or four-toll problem," said Watson.

In addition to being a hotbed for fishing and water recreation in the area, Standley Lake provides much of the water for Westminster, Northglenn, Federal Heights, the Shaw Heights region of unincorporated Adams County and parts of Thornton.

The migration of the zebra mussel into Standley Lake, 100th Avenue and Simms Street, in Westminster, would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars upfront and more yearly to keep good-tasting water flowing into local homes, according to Mike Happe, water resources and treatment manger.

"It hasn't been stopped yet," he said. "But we have a unique opportunity because we have a set number of permits for people who use the lake."

Boats need permits to go onto Standley Lake, as opposed to a state-run facility like Chatfield Reservoir, where anyone can bring their boat in and just pay for a day on the lake. So, officials can make sure that boats entering into the lake have properly dried out, which has been the only proven way to make sure all the mussels are dead.

Those with permits can take their crafts to Standley Lake, where they will be inspected. Boats that pass inspection receive a tag that attaches to the boat and its trailer, thus it would break if the boat were to go into any other body of water.
If the tag remains intact, the boat can go right into the water, after a five to 11-day drying period, depending on how hot and dry the weather is. If the tag breaks, or is missing, it has to be inspected and go through another drying period.
Happe said permit owners should get their boat in for an inspection by April 20 so their boat is ready to go for the first day of boating on May 1.

Once boats leave the water, they will be immediately tagged, and won't have to go through another inspection or drying period as long as it remains intact.
In addition, live aquatic bait such as minnows, leaches, salamanders and crawdads have been banned from use.

"We tried to strike a balance where we could protect the water and also have great recreational use," said Watson, who said although he's had a few complaints, that most of the response he's received has been positive. "Most of the people understand it."

Happe acknowledged that this system would be a hassle for boaters who go to other lakes and reservoirs, but said that the majority of Standley Lake users only use that lake.

He also said that precautions like this will soon become the norm around the state, no matter who's running the facility.

"It's going to become a way of life for boaters, unfortunately," Happe said.

What: Standley Lake and zebra mussel informational meetings
Where, when: 7 to 8:30 p.m. April 14, 16, City Park Recreational Center Community Room, 10455 Sheridan Blvd.; April 17 at the West View Recreation Community Room, 10747 W. 108th Ave.
Info: Call the Standley Lake Regional Park Nature Center at 303-425-1097 or go to www.ci.westminster.co.us.
SOURCE: CITY OF WESTMINSTER

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John Eisel

Denver , COLORADO

John Eisel has posted 2865 stories and 12 comments since joining on 9/14/2005. John Eisel's average story rating is 4.39.

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