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June 2021 July 2020 June 2016 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 July 2013 June 2013 March 2013 February 2013 November 2012 October 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 November 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 October 2010 September 2010 February 2010 January 2010 | Water Recreationists Encouraged to Prevent Spread of Invasive Mussels As Memorial Day weekend approaches, the Bureau of Reclamation and multiple federal, state, and local agencies are actively encouraging water recreationists to remain vigilant in preventing the transport and spread of harmful aquatic invasive species to un-infested water bodies by following the standard precautionary steps of "Clean, Drain, and Dry." Zebra and quagga mussels are freshwater bivalve mollusks, typically less than an inch in size that can rapidly proliferate in dense clusters by adhering to hard surfaces with hair-like threads. Mussels spread from infested waters by attaching to the hard surfaces on watercraft and trailers or are transported as larvae in the water left in boat engines, bilges, live wells, buckets, or crevices that can remain wet. "Once invasive mussels become established in a waterway, they cause significant damage to aquatic ecosystems and water system infrastructure," said Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor. "Reclamation is working with our federal and state partners to prevent the further spread of mussels in western reservoirs and waterways. We are also actively developing and evaluating remedies to treat facilities already impacted by mussels." Boaters and recreational watercraft users are the first line of defense in preventing the spread of these troublesome invasive species by making it a habit to practice "Clean, Drain, and Dry" when leaving any body of water. Inspect and remove all visible debris including plant material and mud, and wash with hot, high-pressure water if possible. Drain any space that can hold water by removing plugs and inclining watercraft. Ensure all areas are completely dry by waiting at least five days before launching into another body of water. Following these steps will significantly reduce the likelihood of unintentional spreading of mussels between water bodies. In addition, many reservoirs have mandatory mussel inspection and cleaning stations operated by federal and state partners. Please visit Reclamation's mussel web site to learn more about preventing the spread of mussels: www.usbr.gov/mussels. Published: 05/25/11 How invasive plants affect you and what you can do about it. Lepidium latifolium (aka: Tall Whitetop or Perennial Pepperweed) Maybe you have seen them growing on the side of the road, or out in your pasture. Tall Whitetop can grow from 2 to 7 feet tall when in full bloom; it bears showy clusters of fluffy white flowers. Have you seen them in the Sierra Valley? Maybe you saw some out along the Middle Fork Feather River. These plants spread via an extensive network of roots that can spread more than 10 feet. New shoots sprout from these roots to form new plants. Roots exposed by washouts and land disturbances fragment and move along wet areas to start new infestations downstream. Roots fragmented by the plowing, disking, tilling and other soil turning activities increase plant densities and facilitate further spread. Each plant can produce as many as 10,000 tiny red seeds that spread out and can out-compete previously existing plant communities. Tall Whitetop can invade a wide range of habitats including riparian areas (along creeks and streams), wetlands, floodplains, marshes, hay meadows, pastures, and croplands, along roadsides, railways, and vacant lots. It adapts quickly to natural and disturbed wetlands, which we have in abundance around Sierra Valley. As it establishes and expands, the Tall Whitetop creates large stands that displace native plants and animals. In addition to impacting alfalfa and pasture production, it has been reported to adversely affect food quality and nesting habitat for native birds. Once it establishes a foothold, it seriously decreases the productivity of our lands. These weeds are particularly devastating after wildfire because they easily dominate the revegetation process. Even though this plant quickly takes over there are some things that you can do to help in the fight against them. The first step it to get to know what these plants look like, be aware of them and fight them before they get too established. Be on the lookout! If you spot Tall Whitetop, dig it out and watch it carefully. If the invasion is widespread, call David Arsenault with the Sierra Valley Resource Conservation District (SVRCD) at (530) 283-0455. Your call will help us map infestations so that we can start the fight to control the spread of these invasive plants. It will likely take several years to eradicate this aggressive invader so let's begin the battle now. By actively managing our private lands and working together we can make the Sierra Valley a more productive, healthy place for future generations. Published: 05/11/11 |