Utah is on the brink of an invasion, and without preparation and quick action, millions will need to be spent yearly to combat the problem.

The quagga mussel, a small bivalve not native to United States waters, has begun to colonize the Colorado River and may soon make its way to Utah. Officials from the Central Utah Water Conservancy District learned about the invasive species and how to combat its spread in a conference Tuesday in Orem. The mussels are a Eurasian variety that were first discovered in the United States in the late 1980s in the Midwest. The unknown organism was largely disregarded until officials realized the damage done to water systems from rapidly reproducing mussels clinging to and clogging pipes. The mussels can reduce waterway capacities and cost millions to clean.

Wilfred LePage, a retired plant manager from Monroe, Mich., said the species first invaded his plant's intake valves in Lake Erie in early 1989. By May of that year, the unknown species has reduced the intake by 25 percent on the plant's 40-year-old pipes. Workers removed the bivalves, but didn't think much of them because crustaceans were not unusual in the pipes.

"We simply removed them and largely forgot about them," LePage said.

Officials did not forget about the quagga mussels for long, as the prolific reproducers soon returned in huge numbers. By July, it was clear something was wrong. Divers found large masses of mussels at the intake of the pipeline, and two to three inch thick masses in all the joints. On the Labor Day weekend, flow slowed to a trickle and crews worked for hours to restore water flow through the pipes.

"Note the time frame here," LePage said. "Jan. 29 to Sept. 1. Just seven months from discovery to chaos."

The plant in Monroe eventually installed new machinery that injects chemicals such as chlorine into the water to kill the mussels, and LePage said the pipes have not had problems in years. However, the mussels still exist and cause more problems as they travel to new environments, including the west coast.

Dave Johnson, plant manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority, said the mussels were discovered in Lake Mead, southeast of Las Vegas, in January 2007. Johnson said informational meetings like Tuesday's conference were instrumental in averting chaos in the reservoir. The mussels were discovered in a larval state, before they attached to pipes and other structures.

"In our system, we found it early enough that we were able to take a proactive approach," he said.

Johnson said chlorination was used in the early phases, and the intake pipes never became clogged with the older shelled mussels. While the quagga mussels were discovered early, Johnson said the larvae still exist in high numbers and millions of dollars are spent fighting their growth yearly. Nearly 100 billion mussels were in the lake at their peak, and 22 billion larvae are in the lake on an average day.

"We have a real healthy population of quagga mussel in Lake Mead, to put it mildly," he said.

Johnson said Tuesday's conference will be integral in Utah's effort to take proactive measures as Nevada did. Lake Mead's close proximity to Utah makes Utah's waters a prime target for the mussels to move. The quagga mussels are often transported by boats on trailers that carry them from one body of water to another. According to information provided by Mike Suflita, senior engineer with the Utah Department of Natural Resources, several Utah destinations are used by Lake Mead boaters.

Lake Powell is the third most popular destination for Lake Mead boaters, and Pineview Reservoir, Bear Lake, Willard Bay and Jordanelle Reservoir are also in the top 20. If Utah agencies do not respond rapidly to an infestation, officials estimate the state will spend more than $16 million each year fighting the mussels.

Larry Dalton, aquatic nuisance species coordinator for DNR, said the cost of the infestation will affect all Utah citizens. Everyone drinks water, and the millions spent to clean that water will be passed on to the customer. The mussels have infested waters south of Utah in the Colorado River, and officials announced Tuesday more had been found at the headwaters of the river in Colorado.

"That's especially worrisome that the Colorado River could be infested above and below Utah," he said. "That just scares us to death."

Dalton said the state enacted a program in 2007 to stop the spread of the mussel, and he believes it has been very successful so far. Before a boater launches in Utah waters, their boat will be inspected for mussels and officials will educate them about the problem. Dalton said the biggest part of the program is just getting the word out about quagga mussels and how to clean infested boats.

In order to slow the spread of the quagga mussels, boaters who have visited infested waters should clean plants, mud and animals from the boat and wash everything, including crevices and hidden areas. All water in wells, ballasts and engines must be drained, and the boat should be completely dry before entering other waters.

For more information on the quagga mussel, visit www.protectyourwaters.net or www.wildlife.utah.gov.SClBSClBGuidelines

Boaters who have visited infested waters should:

• Clean: Wipe down boat, remove all plants, animals and mud. Wash everything, including crevices and hidden areas of boat and equipment.

Drain: All water should be eliminated, including wells, ballast and engine cooling water.

Dry: Allow time for boat to completely dry, seven days in the summer, 18 in the spring and fall.