(Photo courtesy of Arizona Game and Fish Department)

Quagga mussels attach to hard surfaces like boats and water pipes.

Lake Havasu is a popular tourist destination, but large plumes of algae have raised concern for the lake, and it may not be the only thing to worry about in the water.

The large algae blooms are out of season, and the blooms are unusual, but testing says there is little to worry about.   

“This species can produce a variety of toxins given the right environmental conditions. Evidentially we don’t have those conditions in the lake,” said Doyle Wilson, water resources coordinator for Lake Havasu City.

He says the species can naturally occur anywhere. However, it's the presence of a non-native species that’s to blame for the blooms.

“The Quagga mussels have preferentially filtered and consumed the algae that used to bloom here," Wilson said. "They don’t like the microcystis because of certain toxins they can’t tolerate. So they kind of selectively feed.”         

Quagga Mussels are rapidly spreading in lakes across the nation and can wreak havoc on lake food webs. However, the Arizona Game and Fish Department says fish populations appear to be thriving. Some are even feeding off the Quagga Mussels, though that will barely make a dent in rapidly growing mussel and algae populations.