Four boats carrying an invasive species of mussels were stopped before entering the water at Ruedi Reservoir.
Inspectors at the Ruedi boat ramp spotted quagga mussels on four boats that had previously been at Lake Powell, which has been infested with the destructive animals for several years.
Quagga mussels are an invasive shellfish that reproduce rapidly and can damage both infrastructure and ecosystems. They have not yet been found in Colorado, though inspectors across the state are stopping more and more contaminated boats from entering lakes and reservoirs.
The boats at Ruedi were all thoroughly decontaminated with hot water and then allowed to enter the reservoir.
Officials are reminding boaters to thoroughly clean and dry all surfaces after each use.
