By Jeff Delong, Reno Gazette-Journal

Juvenile quagga mussels are present in Lahontan Reservoir and might also exist in Rye Patch Reservoir, a new round of tests indicates.

There is no evidence adult mussels are thriving or reproducing in either of the popular reservoirs, but the danger of that possibility must be taken into account as boating activity is managed across the region, officials said Tuesday.

Experts from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Department of Wildlife and other agencies held a press conference to discuss the latest tests at Lahontan and Rye Patch.

Preliminary tests in April suggested microscopic mussel “veligers” were in both reservoirs. Subsequent tests, including DNA analysis, came back with mixed results, but Lahontan is now considered positive and Rye Patch “suspect” for mussels, said Andrea Minor, a specialist with the Bureau of Reclamation.

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