Zebra mussel DNA detected in Utah’s Colorado River for first time, raising alarm over invasive species threat across the Upper Colorado River basin

• Image: WikipediaAn invasive species threat has reached a new stretch of the Colorado River, after scientists detected zebra mussel DNA in Utah’s portion of the river for the first time.
• The discovery has raised concerns among wildlife officials because zebra mussels can spread rapidly once established, potentially damaging infrastructure, disrupting recreation and altering freshwater ecosystems.
• The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) announced the detection on 25 August 2026, saying fragments of zebra mussel DNA were found in water samples collected near the Potash Boat Ramp, about 14 r