Swine Eradication Closure – Havasu Refuge

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be implementing a temporary closure of portions of Havasu National Wildlife Refuge during feral swine aerial eradication efforts. However, the Colorado River will not be closed during eradication efforts. The temporary closures will be effective intermittently in portions of the refuge, from February 6 – 16, 2018. Topock Marsh will be closed throughout the two-week period (including Catfish Paradise, North and South Dikes, Pintail Slough, Five-mile Landing, and … Read More

Our View: Marine Group’s Honor Deserved, Should Serve As Inspiration

Congratulations are due the Lake Havasu Marine Association for receiving a top state award for its work to improve boating and the waterway in the popular Lake Havasu area. The Arizona Game and Fish Department recognized the marine association with its ‘award of excellence,” the agency’s top award last weekend. It’s an honor for the marine association, of course, and it also speaks volumes about the ability of local groups to have a big footprint … Read More

Lake Havasu Marine Association Honored at Arizona Game and Fish Meeting

The Lake Havasu Marine Association was honored on Saturday with the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s “Award for Excellence,” but the organization’s work is far from over. The Marine Association has for 10 years helped guide education and action for boating safety in Arizona, working alongside state and federal agencies to advocate for Havasu boaters. Their work on the lake hasn’t gone unnoticed, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department in November announced that the … Read More

Feds Flexing Against Mussels

Meeting could represent new approach on invasive quaggasTop of Form The development of a containment strategy for the invasive quagga mussel has been identified as a top priority for the U.S. Department of the Interior. A meeting held in Lake Havasu City last week might be the first step in the development of such a plan. The two-day meeting between a number of state and federal agencies was closed to the public, but Lake Havasu … Read More

Our View: A Federal Quagga Mussel Solution, Oh, Please Save Us

Lake Havasu boaters stand to become the whipping boys in an effort to show the federal government and Western states are really, really serious about stopping the spread of invasive mussels. If one proposal comes to pass, boats leaving Lake Havasu would face required decontamination, a time-consuming and expensive process. The idea, apparently, is to punish Arizona in general and Lake Havasu boaters specifically because quagga mussels are showing up in a number of lakes … Read More

Anchor Shipment First to Bear Quagga Mussel Warning

About 1,200 new anchors arrived Friday at Havasu business Slide Anchor, each affixed with an advisory sticker against the spread of aquatic invasive species. Havasu-based Slide Anchor last week received a shipment of 1,200 anchors from China, the first of the company’s products to bear warnings for boaters against the potential for spreading aquatic invasive species to other bodies of water. The Lake Havasu City business joined the Lake Havasu Marine Association alongside multiple state … Read More

Western Governors Want Federal Help in Invasive Mussel Fight

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Governors of 19 Western states are pressing the federal government to do more to prevent the spread of damage-causing invasive mussels from infected federally managed waterways. The Western Governors’ Association on Thursday sent a letter urging Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to put in place by spring 2018 controls to prevent the spread of zebra and quagga mussels. The governors are also asking that federal agencies conduct mandatory inspections and decontamination of … Read More

New Quagga Campaign Effective, Havasu Marine Association Says

“Popeye the Sailor” is the unofficial mascot of the Lake Havasu Marine Association’s fight against the spread of quagga mussels in Arizona. From the Marine Association’s Facebook page. It’s been five months since the Lake Havasu Marine Association unveiled its new marketing campaign against the spread of aquatic invasive species, and those efforts may be gaining traction in California. The fight against quagga mussels and other forms of aquatic invasive species is nothing new to … Read More

Arizona State Parks and Trails Brings Home the Gold Medal for Best Managed State Park System

PHOENIX – Arizona State Parks and Trails today won the Gold Medal for best managed state park system in the nation from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). The award was announced this morning during the national NRPA conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. “This is a tremendous achievement that benefits everyone in our state – from residents to tourists,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “Winning the Gold Medal is a testament to the hard work, … Read More

Arizona Game and Fish Panel Wants to Clarify Quagga Regulations

Arizona’s fight against the invasive quagga mussel needs a little clarification. The Arizona Department of Game and Fish says that despite marketing efforts and enforcement, there are still a number of boaters who don’t feel the need to clean, drain or dry their watercrafts to aid in stopping the spread of the aquatic invasive species in the Colorado River. The Game and Fish Commission this month called for clarification and more easily-understood phrasing to its … Read More