Colorado’s waterways are facing a silent but fast-spreading threat: zebra mussels. These tiny, invasive mollusks — no larger than a fingernail — are capable of disrupting entire ecosystems, clogging pipelines, and damaging critical water infrastructure. As Colorado ramps up its detection and containment efforts, scientists and environmental agencies are sounding the alarm on a broader reality: protecting our water requires vigilance against both biological invasions and chemical contamination.
At CMDC Labs, based in Longmont, CO, we see these issues as interconnected. Biological threats like zebra mussels share the same ecosystem vulnerabilities that allow PFAS, heavy metals, and microbial contaminants to persist. Whether the invader is a living organism or a toxic molecule, the solution begins the same way — with science, testing, and data.
The Invasion: How Zebra Mussels Found Their Way to Colorado
Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) were first discovered in the Great Lakes in the 1980s after hitching rides on trans-Atlantic cargo ships. Since then, they’ve quietly spread westward through waterways, boats, and ballast systems.
Colorado managed to remain mussel-free for decades thanks to aggressive inspection programs and public awareness campaigns. That changed when invasive mussels were detected in Highline Lake in 2022, followed by new reports of suspected contamination in Pueblo Reservoir and Lake Granby in 2025.
While the numbers are still relatively low, the implications are massive. A single female zebra mussel can produce up to one million eggs per year. Once established, they adhere to virtually any surface — intake pipes, boat hulls, concrete, even other mussels — forming dense colonies that restrict water flow and alter ecosystems.
For Colorado’s drinking water systems, irrigation channels, and hydroelectric facilities, that can mean millions in maintenance costs and long-term degradation of infrastructure.
Biological Contaminants Are Environmental Alarms
The zebra mussel’s spread isn’t just an isolated event. It signals how ecosystems under stress — from climate change, nutrient runoff, and pollution — become more vulnerable to biological invasions.
In Colorado, rising temperatures and fluctuating water levels have disrupted aquatic balance, favoring species that can adapt quickly and displacing native organisms. That ecological instability opens the door for opportunists like zebra mussels, golden algae, and quagga mussels.
The presence of these species also correlates with other contamination markers. For instance:
- Microbial proliferation: Dense mussel colonies create biofilms that can harbor bacteria like E. coli and Legionella, posing secondary risks to human health.
- Chemical concentration: By filtering large amounts of water, mussels can accumulate heavy metals and PFAS in their tissues, later releasing them back into the ecosystem.
- Ecosystem imbalance: The removal of plankton by zebra mussels alters the food web, affecting everything from fish to waterfowl.
This intersection of biology and chemistry underscores why environmental monitoring can’t focus on one threat at a time. Detecting an invasive species is not just an ecological issue — it’s a signal of larger systemic vulnerabilities.
Colorado’s Response: From Detection to Containment
Recognizing the urgency, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has intensified its inspection and containment efforts. The state’s Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Program now conducts thousands of boat inspections annually, using decontamination protocols that involve high-pressure, high-temperature water.
In 2025, CPW announced expanded surveillance using environmental DNA (eDNA) testing — a method that detects microscopic traces of DNA shed by organisms in water samples. This non-invasive approach has already proven instrumental in identifying early-stage infestations before they become visible.
The challenge, however, lies in verification. Positive detections must be confirmed through multiple laboratory analyses to rule out false positives, cross-contamination, or degraded DNA signals. That’s where independent laboratories like CMDC Labs can play a pivotal role — by providing accurate, ISO-accredited testing for both biological and chemical contaminants that may co-occur in affected waters.
The Chemical Parallel: PFAS and Metals in the Same Waterways
While zebra mussels dominate ecological headlines, another invisible threat flows quietly alongside them — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals.”
PFAS compounds, used in firefighting foams, textiles, and consumer goods, have been detected in Colorado’s surface and groundwater systems, often near industrial or military sites. These chemicals resist degradation, accumulating in water bodies and organisms over time.
Similarly, heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury remain persistent contaminants due to industrial runoff, mining legacy, and corrosion of old pipelines.
In water bodies threatened by biological invaders, these chemical pollutants can have amplified effects:
- Mussel bioaccumulation can increase localized PFAS concentrations.
- Water flow restrictions can cause stagnation, altering oxygen levels and metal solubility.
- Biological decomposition in infested areas can affect pH balance, influencing contaminant behavior.
The result? A dangerous synergy of biological and chemical pollution that tests the limits of municipal treatment systems.
Testing as Prevention: How Independent Labs Strengthen Public Safety
The most effective defense against both zebra mussels and chemical contaminants is proactive, science-driven testing. That’s the philosophy behind CMDC Labs’ environmental testing programs.
At CMDC Labs, we focus on:
- PFAS-Free Sampling Protocols – Preventing contamination from sampling materials themselves.
- Ultra-Trace Detection (LC-MS/MS) – Capable of identifying PFAS at parts-per-trillion levels, far below many regulatory thresholds.
- Comprehensive Metal Analysis – Using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) for simultaneous detection of multiple metals.
- Microbial & DNA Testing – Screening for waterborne pathogens, algae, and invasive species through molecular methods.
- Long-Term Monitoring Programs – Partnering with municipalities, watershed groups, and agricultural clients to track seasonal or annual trends.
Together, these services provide a complete picture of water quality, linking biological and chemical insights to guide targeted remediation strategies.
Why Integrated Testing Matters
Environmental management often suffers from compartmentalization — with one agency handling invasive species, another focusing on chemical pollutants, and yet another monitoring public health. But in the real world, these issues intersect constantly.
A contaminated watershed can’t be fully understood through one type of test. For example:
- A spike in microbial counts might stem from decaying mussel populations.
- Changes in PFAS levels might correlate with bioaccumulation within invasive organisms.
- Sediment testing might reveal heavy metals bound within mussel shells or biofilms.
An integrated approach bridges these gaps. By aligning ecological testing with chemical analysis, laboratories like CMDC Labs help agencies and communities see the full system — not just individual problems.
The Local Stakes: Protecting Colorado’s Infrastructure and Ecosystems
For Colorado, the stakes are especially high. Water is both the state’s most precious resource and its most vulnerable. The zebra mussel invasion threatens:
- Municipal systems: Mussels can block intakes and reduce water pressure in treatment facilities.
- Hydroelectric dams: Colonies accumulate in turbines, impairing efficiency and requiring expensive shutdowns.
- Irrigation and agriculture: Blocked pipes can disrupt irrigation schedules, harming crops and increasing costs.
- Biodiversity: Native mussels, snails, and fish species face direct competition for food and habitat.
The economic impact of invasive species and chemical contaminants in U.S. waters exceeds $1 billion annually, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In Colorado alone, prevention efforts cost millions each year — a fraction of what widespread infestation would cost to control.
That’s why CMDC Labs advocates for a preventive testing model — one that identifies risks before they escalate into crises.
Building Public Confidence Through Science
Environmental challenges like the zebra mussel invasion are often seen as government or policy problems, but they are equally issues of trust. Communities deserve to know whether their water is safe, and that assurance must come from data, not promises.
Independent testing laboratories bridge that trust gap by providing:
- Objective verification of water quality claims.
- Transparency through validated methodologies.
- Accountability in documenting trends and corrective actions.
At CMDC Labs, our mission extends beyond compliance. We help Colorado communities, businesses, and agencies make science-based decisions that sustain both ecosystem resilience and public confidence.
Conclusion
The story of Colorado’s zebra mussels is about more than one invasive species — it’s a reflection of how fragile our interconnected ecosystems have become. When biological invaders and chemical contaminants meet, they amplify each other’s risks.
The path forward isn’t fear — it’s science. Through comprehensive testing, data transparency, and collaboration, we can protect Colorado’s waters from the next wave of invisible threats, whether they come from a foreign organism or a man-made compound.
At CMDC Labs, we believe that understanding contamination — in all its forms — is the first step to stopping it.
Sources: Aspen Public Radio (Sept 2025); Colorado Parks & Wildlife; U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); CMDC Labs Internal Data.
