Description
Proliferation of invasive zebra and quagga mussels pose a host of challenges such as damaging or clogging industrial infrastructure, adversely impacting native fish and mussel populations, decreasing property value, and discouraging recreation. Whether you are a utility or a park and recreation department, invasive mussels are an expensive nuisance when populations aren’t controlled.
The Zebra and Quagga Mussel Mitigation training course will educate participants on the following:
- biology of mussels
- distribution patterns
- early identification and prevention techniques
- adverse impacts of invasive mussel infestations
- control techniques
- public communication strategies
This course will walk you through the steps of zebra and quagga mussel mitigation from monitoring and planning through control techniques and implementation.
Additional information
After attending the course, participants will successfully be able to:
- Describe zebra and quagga mussel biology including reproduction, population dynamics, growth patterns, and feeding
- Define distribution patterns including vectors for population expansion
- Recognize environmental changes due to mussel invasion
- Explain the adverse impacts that mussels will have on the environment, recreation, drinking water plants, reservoirs, pipelines, and power plants
- Identify general control strategies
- Construct a zebra mussel monitoring program beginning with detection upon first arrival
- Anticipate infestation challenges and identify a control method
- Review other biofouling challenges
- Apply public outreach and communication strategies
