Colorado Parks and Wildlife are taking a preemptive strike against an invasive threat that could ravage local ecosystems. On February 6th, CPW Director Jeff Davis announced a temporary designation for golden mussels as an aquatic nuisance species (ANS) that, as per Colorado Parks and Wildlife, spans a duration "for a period not to exceed nine months." Although these intruders haven't been detected within the state, the new status equips CPW with the authority intended to ward off the species' entry and establishment in Colorado waters.

The recent discovery of golden mussels in California has put neighboring states on high alert. Detected near Stockton in the California Delta, and later in numerous waterways across the state, golden mussels have prompted concerns across state lines due to their destructive potential, a subject on which Robert Walters, CPW Invasive Species Program Manager, conveyed the urgency when he said, "By implementing this temporary designation in advance of the upcoming boating season, we have the authority necessary to protect our aquatic resources from the potentially devastating impacts associated with this highly invasive species," as obtained by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This mandate makes it illegal for any person to possess, import, export, transfer, or essentially introduce the species into Colorado's environment.

Primarily found in China and Southeast Asia, golden mussels are resilient creatures that adapt to various conditions, notably tolerating low levels of oxygen, pollution, and even brackish waters to a degree that surpasses zebra and quagga mussels. They pose a substantial ecological threat by reducing plankton and other vital nutrients, as CPW highlighted. Once thriving, they can filter up to half a liter of water per hour, an astonishing tenfold increase compared to their already problematic zebra and quagga relatives.