The story of Blue Mesa Reservoir is less about a dramatic rescue than about a danger that never arrived. Invasive mussels can hitch a ride on boats and equipment, then quietly establish themselves in waters where they are difficult, and often expensive, to remove. In 2008, Colorado’s Curecanti National Recreation Area began screening watercraft at Blue Mesa, treating prevention as the first line of defense. A decade later, the reservoir remained completely mussel-free. That record matters because environmental protection rarely produces visible victories. Sometimes success is measured by what an ecosystem manages to avoid, year after year.
