Printable VersionLAKE HAVASU CITY — When it comes to recreation, the reviews on Lake Havasu’s newest resident are mixed.
 Kay Sykes Photo/Special to News-Herald. Lake Havasu City resident Wayne Bailey prepares for his dive with the Lake Havasu Dive Association. Divers are finding the waters of Lake Havasu much clearer these days, thanks to the Quagga mussel’s consumption of zooplankton. |
The Quagga became a permanent resident in the water of Lake Havasu in January 2007, just after its discovery in Lake Mead. Ten divers from the Bureau of Reclamation searched for the small invasive species for two days before spotting one. However, an adult Quagga Mussel can produce a half-million larvae in a single year and in the three years since its introduction in Lake Havasu, the mussel has been spotted virtually everywhere.
Even though Lake Havasu has been infected with this aquatic invasive species, the Lake itself and not seen a decrease in recreation because of its presence. The beaches along Rotary Community and London Bridge Beach Parks remain packed and the clearer waters have brought families to the water, seeking a reprieve from the hot summer temperatures. Boats and personal watercraft continue to line the shores of the Bridgewater Channel on the weekends and the latest craze — standup paddleboard — continues to grow.
Those clearer waters are also helping more people discover scuba diving. That’s according to Kathy Weydig, owner of Scuba Training and Technology and active with the Lake Havasu Dive Association. Weydig said that Lake Havasu has not previously been considered a diving location for tourists but it certainly could be if there was a designated dive park.
“We have noticed more divers diving in the Lake. The locals, who never wanted to dive, when we first moved to Havasu in 2002, now dive because the visibility is getting better. Or the new students I train are more likely to continue diving in the lake after their training, because the lake wasn’t as bad as they expected,” Weydig said.
The Lake Havasu Dive Association coordinates a number of community underwater cleanup events each years and Weydig said participation is growing. She also said she trains 75 to 100 new divers every year.
But when it comes to fishing, “Captain” Doyle with Captain Doyle’s Guide Service in Topock said he’s noticed a significant decrease in the Striped Bass that populate the lake and river. Doyle said he’s also seeing a decrease in the shad population, a major food source for multiple sport fish.
BLM Fisheries Improvement Program Manager Kirk Koch said that’s because, “The zooplankton has been substantially reduced since the infestation.”
While there are no known predators, recent studies have shown that the mussel has been found in the bellies of some fish, including Bluegill, Carp, Redear Sunfish, Channel Catfish and even in some Bass. Which is consistent with Doyle’s observation of increased size and numbers of Smallmouth Bass, Redears, Bluegills and the Green Pumpkin Sunfish
With this reduction in zooplankton there is an increase in aquatic vegetation, which can make navigating the river a challenge. An Aquatic Invasive Species will attach itself to the vegetation and then the vegetation can become entangled in the propellers and outdrives of boats, as well as, the intake grates and pumps of personal watercraft, anchor lines, docks and hulls of all watercraft.
Dave Vidad with the Lake Havasu City Outrigger Canoe Club said the club now has extra duties, thanks to the Quagga mussel.
“Every member is aware of the mussel and take the time to clean and dry their equipment after each use,” he said.
Koch said that there is a good chance the mussel is attached to the vegetation and due diligence and self-policing play an important role in stopping the transportation of the AIS.
Arizona Game and Fish Invasive Species Coordinator Tom McMahon said that while the mussel is sensitive to light and likes to live in deeper cooler waters, the Quagga has adapted to the hot summers of Arizona and the species has been seen in waters as shallow as ten feet.
In March of this year, regulations were passed prohibiting the knowing transportation of AIS and the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture Inspection Stations on Interstates 40 and 10 check all watercraft coming into California for the mussel. If any are found, the watercraft could be impounded or the operator refused entry into the state.
“Even though Quagga mussels do not pose a known threat to human health, it is critical that all boaters and anglers in Arizona fight the continuing spread of these invaders by routinely taking simple precautionary steps. Before leaving a lake or other waterway,” McMahon said.
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