November 4, 2009, 7:11 pm
A Nevada man has become the first person to be found guilty of
violating regulations adopted to prevent the spread of invasive mussels
at Lake Powell.
Jonny
Ward has been ordered by a federal magistrate to pay a $2,500 fine for
failing to have his boat inspected for quagga mussels before launching
it on the lake.
Officials
at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area have implemented regulations
mandating inspections for "at-risk" boats entering Lake Powell. Ward
visited Glen Canyon on Aug. 17 and was told by park staff that an
inspection for quagga and zebra mussels was mandatory, according to the
National Park Service.
Park
staff said Ward ignored the information and launched his boat from Lone
Rock Beach. He was issued a citation, took the case to court and was
convicted on Oct. 19 of violating the regulation.
Zebra
and quagga mussels are aquatic invasive species that can lead to severe
economic and environmental consequences for lakes and other waterways.
To
date, zebra mussels have been detected in Electric Lake in Emery County
and quagga mussels have been detected in Red Fleet Reservoir in Uintah
County. Test results for five other Utah bodies of water are pending.
Neither mussel species has been detected in Lake Powell.
