This agreement supports the nevada department of wildlife to fund staff and operations at marina boat wash stations at lake mead national recreation area

The National Park Service (NPS) awarded a $550,000 Cooperative Agreement to the Nevada Department of Wildlife under the Natural Resource Stewardship program (CFDA 15.944) on September 22, 2025, with completion scheduled for September 30, 2028. The award funds staff and operational costs for marina boat wash stations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area that remove invasive mussels from recreational boats, preventing their transport to uninfested water bodies. Uncontrolled mussel spread presents a significant risk, with potential to incur millions of dollars in infrastructure damage to water treatment and irrigation systems.

In addition to station operations, the agreement provides funding to assess the effectiveness of current containment strategies specifically targeting golden mussels. The award includes a sub-award to the Board of Regents of Nevada System of Higher Education (University of Nevada, Reno) dated June 30, 2026, to support research, graduate and post-doctoral education, technical assistance, and demonstration programs related to fish and wildlife resources in Nevada. The general public benefits directly from these invasive species prevention efforts and associated recreational access to Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The boat washes remove invasive mussels from boats to prevent their spread to uninfested water bodies, which can incur millions of dollars of infrastructure damage. This agreement additionally provides funds for assessing current containment strategies effectiveness on golden mussels. This agreement supports the nevada department of wildlife to fund staff and operations at marina boat wash stations at lake mead national recreation area. The boat washes remove invasive mussels from boats to prevent their spread to uninfested water bodies, which can incur millions of dollars of infrastructure damage. This agreement additionally provides funds for assessing current containment strategies effectiveness on golden mussels. Beneficiaries include the general public.