Zebra mussel DNA found in Utah’s Colorado River for first time, raising alarm

An invasive species threat has reached a new stretch of the Colorado River, after scientists detected zebra mussel DNA in Utah’s portion of the river for the first time. The discovery has raised concerns among wildlife officials because zebra mussels can spread rapidly once established, potentially damaging infrastructure, disrupting recreation and altering freshwater ecosystems. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) announced the detection on 25 August 2026, saying fragments of zebra mussel DNA were found in water samples collected near the Potash Boat Ramp, about 14 river miles downstream from Moab. The finding does not confirm that live zebra mussels are present at the site, but it signals that an animal may be somewhere upstream. The discovery comes after an established infestation was documented near Loma, Colorado, in 2025, increasing concern about the invasive mussel moving further through the Upper Colorado River basin.Zebra mussel DNA detected in Utah’s Colorado River for the first timeThe Utah Division of Wildlife Resources began sampling the Colorado River in 2025, covering waters from the state line to Moab as officials monitored for invasive mussels. During Jun...