Colorado’s beer industry could be impacted by Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS)?

Colorado’s beer and breweries could be impacted by Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS). Zebra, quagga and golden mussels can attach themselves to the inside of pipes in massive numbers, forming dense clogs that reduce the amount of water that can be delivered. These species could prevent water from getting to farms that produce barley and hops, key ingredients in beer. Don’t let Colorado’s vibrant beer culture go flat. Tell Coloradans to say “Oh, SHELL NO” to invasive mussels by cleaning, draining and drying all boating, paddling and fishing gear after each use.

ANS can cause major ecological, economic and recreational impacts to the state. They disrupt the food chain by outcompeting native species and can alter the water chemistry. Their populations can grow unnaturally fast, since they’re not a viable food source for many native predators. Zebra and quagga mussels clog up infrastructure, which is costly and time consuming to remove, and they can alter the taste and quality of drinking water. ANS can also affect recreation by clogging boat engines; they can also attach to shorelines and docks, making them hazardous. Invasive plants like Eurasian watermilfoil can also clog up waterways, creating dangerous swimming conditions, and even impact overall fish health.

How can you help?

Clean, Drain, Dry is the simple and easy way to ensure we don’t move around any ANS. Invasive species can be small and hard to see. If we do all three of these actions, we can ensure that no invasive species will get a ‘“free ride”’ to a new waterbody on our gear or equipment. 

1. Dry: Dry your gear. This could mean allowing the gear or equipment to sit out and dry in the sun, or you can dry it with a towel.  As long as the equipment is dry before the next use, this will eliminate the risk of accidentally transporting an invasive species. 
   
2. Clean: Clean your gear and equipment. You can hose down your equipment and wipe it with a towel. Warm or hot water is best; if you only have cold or lukewarm water, you can clean your gear by just removing all mud, plants and other foreign material that could be hiding an invasive species.
   
3. Drain: Remove all the water from your gear. This can be done by tipping over your equipment to allow the water to drain out, or removing drain plugs that could be holding water in. Draining will help remove any excess water that could be harboring microscopic or hidden invasive species, such as mussel larvae.