Evaluation of Carbon Dioxide to Control Dresseinid Mussels
USGS research on carbon dioxide (CO2 ) has shown its effectiveness and relative selectivity as a control tool for nuisance mussels, zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena spp.). Infusing low concentrations of CO2 into water lines can prevent settlement and attachment of larval (veliger) stages of dreissenid mussels. Short-term exposure to higher concentrations of CO2 can cause detachment and mortality of juvenile and adult mussels. Our research is evaluating different CO2 delivery systems in closed water lines to protect infrastructure and open water to restore high value fish habitat.
Management Tools for Dreissnid Mussels
Closed systems research: Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) is designing CO2 infusion systems to control dreissenid mussels in their hydropower facilities. USGS partnered with BOR to conduct an on-site evaluation of CO2 infusion at Davis Dam BOR facility in Nevada to determine the minimum CO2 concentration and exposure duration to prevent dreissenid settlement (Barbour et al., 2025). This collaboration continues to develop cost-effective delivery systems and treatment schedules to protect critical water infrastructure.
Water chemistry and CO2 toxicity: Water chemistry can influence the toxicity of a chemical and the sensitivity of dreissenid mussels to the chemical, including CO2. Researchers determined effective CO2 concentrations to kill adult zebra mussels across a range of water chemistries. Managers can use the data to tailor CO2 treatments in their facilities for invasive mussel control.
Open water research: Benthic mats are often used to smother nuisance aquatic vegetation and nuisance molluscs in lakes. Mats produce anoxic conditions over several weeks to months. Though effective, benthic mats are not selective, resulting in mortality of most other aquatic organisms, and require an extended deployment period of several weeks to months. USGS research is developing mats which have a built-in CO2 infusion system as an alternative to benthic mats. The treatment period with a CO2-infusion mat is 4-5 days, compared to ~ 30 days with a benthic mat, and CO2 is selectively toxic to dreissenid mussels relative to some native mussels. Pilot testing of a 4 m x 4 m CO2 mat in a Michigan inland lake demonstrated proof of concept with high mortality of zebra mussels and efficient delivery of CO2 at the target concentration. The CO2 mat will be scaled-up for deployment in a larger open water system to measure the effects of large scale dreissenid removal.
CO2 as a disinfectant:
The veliger or larval stage of dreissenid mussels is microscopic and can be easily transferred in water during mussel and fish propagation and stocking activities. In partnership with the National Park Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS is developing treatment protocols with CO2 to disinfect or kill veligers from infested waterbodies before transfer of mussels to uninfested waters.
References:
Barbour, M. T., Severson, T. J., Wise, J. K., Muelemans, M. J., Kelly, K., Pucherelli, S., & Waller, D. L. (2025). Carbon dioxide infusion reduces invasive mussel biofouling (quagga mussel; Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) in raw water systems. Biofouling, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927014.2025.2468282
USGS research on carbon dioxide (CO2 ) has shown its effectiveness and relative selectivity as a control tool for nuisance mussels, zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena spp.). Infusing low concentrations of CO2 into water lines can prevent settlement and attachment of larval (veliger) stages of dreissenid mussels. Short-term exposure to higher concentrations of CO2 can cause detachment and mortality of juvenile and adult mussels. Our research is evaluating different CO2 delivery systems in closed water lines to protect infrastructure and open water to restore high value fish habitat.
Management Tools for Dreissnid Mussels
Closed systems research: Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) is designing CO2 infusion systems to control dreissenid mussels in their hydropower facilities. USGS partnered with BOR to conduct an on-site evaluation of CO2 infusion at Davis Dam BOR facility in Nevada to determine the minimum CO2 concentration and exposure duration to prevent dreissenid settlement (Barbour et al., 2025). This collaboration continues to develop cost-effective delivery systems and treatment schedules to protect critical water infrastructure.
Water chemistry and CO2 toxicity: Water chemistry can influence the toxicity of a chemical and the sensitivity of dreissenid mussels to the chemical, including CO2. Researchers determined effective CO2 concentrations to kill adult zebra mussels across a range of water chemistries. Managers can use the data to tailor CO2 treatments in their facilities for invasive mussel control.
Open water research: Benthic mats are often used to smother nuisance aquatic vegetation and nuisance molluscs in lakes. Mats produce anoxic conditions over several weeks to months. Though effective, benthic mats are not selective, resulting in mortality of most other aquatic organisms, and require an extended deployment period of several weeks to months. USGS research is developing mats which have a built-in CO2 infusion system as an alternative to benthic mats. The treatment period with a CO2-infusion mat is 4-5 days, compared to ~ 30 days with a benthic mat, and CO2 is selectively toxic to dreissenid mussels relative to some native mussels. Pilot testing of a 4 m x 4 m CO2 mat in a Michigan inland lake demonstrated proof of concept with high mortality of zebra mussels and efficient delivery of CO2 at the target concentration. The CO2 mat will be scaled-up for deployment in a larger open water system to measure the effects of large scale dreissenid removal.
CO2 as a disinfectant:
The veliger or larval stage of dreissenid mussels is microscopic and can be easily transferred in water during mussel and fish propagation and stocking activities. In partnership with the National Park Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS is developing treatment protocols with CO2 to disinfect or kill veligers from infested waterbodies before transfer of mussels to uninfested waters.
References:
Barbour, M. T., Severson, T. J., Wise, J. K., Muelemans, M. J., Kelly, K., Pucherelli, S., & Waller, D. L. (2025). Carbon dioxide infusion reduces invasive mussel biofouling (quagga mussel; Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) in raw water systems. Biofouling, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927014.2025.2468282