Mussel Danger Leaves Standley Lake Off-Limits To Boaters

WESTMINSTER, CO – Boaters will be prohibited from Standley Lake this summer because of fears of possible zebra and quagga mussel infestation, the City of Westminster said this week.

The city is banning all "trailered boats" to protect Westminster's water supply, the city said. Although none of the invasive mussels had been discovered in Standley Lake, the city said that in the past, boat owners were "deliberately bypassing protective measures," that would keep the pesky mollusks at bay.

“Standley Lake is the drinking water supply for roughly 300,000 people in Westminster, Northglenn and Thornton,” said Max Kirschbaum, Public Works and Utilities Department director in a press release. “Water comes directly from the lake into our treatment system. If these mussels establish themselves in the lake, there would be significant, on-going costs to keep our system running. Protecting our community’s water supply will always be the chief concern.”

The city cancelled all 2019 trailered boat permits and said no additional permits will be sold. If you already bought a permit, you'll be notified and receive a refund.

Smaller watercraft, such as kayaks, canoes, rafts and paddleboards will be permitted, but will still have to go through the city’s on-site decontamination procedure, the city said.

Zebra and quagga mussels, are invasive shellfish that sometimes hitch a ride on boats to travel from waterway to waterway. With no natural predators, they take over local bodies of water, clog drinking water pipes and spur algae blooms.

"Westminster has shared its decision with the cities of Thornton and Northglenn, along with the Colorado Department of Natural Resources," the city said in a statement. "Public Works officials with those cities have indicated support for the decision. Westminster City Council has been advised of this policy decision by city staff."

To check for invasive mussels, lake staff usually spray a watercraft on all surfaces of a vessel and inspect for mussels.

Since 2007, when Standley Lake instituted its first mussel protection plan, trailered larger boats which might carry mussels in their ballast, were put in a " quarantine program" that lasted for 34 days.

But boat owners were not abiding by the rules, the city said. Last summer, "as many as 24 boats circumvented the quarantine process. Boat owners launched the boat on other lakes, in some cases multiple times, and then launched on Standley Lake only days later," the city said.

“The Standley Lake boating community has largely been a terrific partner in helping protect these waters,” said Jason Genck, director of Westminster Parks, Recreation and Libraries – the department that manages Standley Lake recreation facilities and permits in a statement. “Until we can determine if there’s a way to ensure these types of boats won’t pose a substantial risk at the lake, we need to put these activities on hold immediately and indefinitely.”

Boaters can talk to staff in person at a boaters meeting on Tuesday, April 2, from 6-7:30 p.m. in the community room at the City Park Recreation Center, 10455 Sheridan Blvd. A short presentation will be shown about why this decision has been made and then staff will be available to answer questions, the city said.