Boaters – Don’t move a mussel this season
 PHOENIX – The spring boating season is underway and the Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking boaters and anglers to take simple steps to avoid moving destructive quagga mussels and other invasive species from one lake to another.
“Prolific quagga mussels have invaded lakes Pleasant, Havasu, Mead and Mohave. These tiny invaders can easily hitchhike on your boat – 10,000 or more microscopic larvae to fit into a teaspoon of water. So please DON’T Move A Mussel,” said Tom McMahon, invasive species coordinator for the Game and Fish Department.
In fact, these tiny invaders are so prolific that a single adult quagga mussel can produce up to a half-million microscopic larvae in a single year and can eventually carpet vast areas of a lake. So please Drain, Clean and Dry your boat each and every time you visit a lake – any lake.
- Drain the water from the boat, livewell and the lower unit
- Clean the hull and remove all plant and animal material
- Dry the boat and inspect all exposed surfaces
“After you visit a lake or other body of water, wait five days before launching your watercraft someplace else,” McMahon said. “This five-day waiting period will aid tremendously in killing those hidden hitchhikers on your boat, such as the microscopic quagga larvae.”
Even when visiting lakes that are not infected with quagga mussels, these simple steps must to be taken to avoid undesired environmental consequences.
“Quagga mussels can cause extensive problems, but they are not the only aquatic invader out there,” McMahon said. “Be conscientious and do your part – drain, clean and dry your watercraft each and every time you visit a lake. It should be as routine as putting on your safety belt when driving a car or brushing your teeth before bed.”
McMahon also pointed out that quagga mussels can infest boat engines and cause extensive damage, as well as impacting water delivery systems and hydroelectric operations. Invasive mussels have caused billions of dollars of damage in Midwestern waters.
Boaters who take the precautionary steps are the first line of defense against these and other aquatic invaders. Those who don’t drain, clean and dry pose a significant environmental threat. Don’t be a threat.
Some lakes in California have been closed to boating to prevent quagga invasions and others could be closed. Some waters, such as Lake Powell in Arizona and Utah, require mandatory inspections before you can launch your boat.
“Quagga mussels do pose a serious threat,” McMahon said. “You don’t want to be the one responsible for infesting beautiful treasures like Lake Powell or Big Lake. The remedial steps are easy. The consequences of not taking them can de dire.”
Frequently
Asked Questions
What
are quagga or zebra mussels?
| Zebra
mussels (Dreissena polymorpha)
are small, freshwater bi-valve mollusks
(relatives to clams and oysters) that
are triangular in shape with an obvious
ridge between the side and bottom.
The zebra mussel gets its name from
the black- (or dark brown) and white-striped
markings that appear on its shell. |
| |
|
Where
did quagga or zebra mussels come from?
Quagga
mussels are native to the Dneiper River
drainage of the Ukraine. Zebra mussels
are native to the Caspian, Black, and
Azov seas of Eastern Europe. These exotic
mussels were first discovered in the United
States in Lake Saint Clair, Michigan,
in 1988 and are believed to have been
introduced in 1986 through ballast water
discharge from ocean-going ships. Since
their initial discovery, zebra mussels
have spread rapidly throughout the Great
Lakes and Mississippi River Basin states
and other watersheds throughout the eastern
and central United States. Quagga mussels
have not spread as extensively.
How
did these invasive mussels get to Lake
Mead?
These
invasive mussels in Lake Mead are 1,000
miles farther west than any other known
colony of zebra mussels. The primary
method of overland dispersal of these
mussels is through human-related activities.
Given their ability to attach to hard
surfaces and survive out of water, many
infestations have occurred by adult mussels
hitching rides on watercraft. The microscopic
larvae also can be transported in bilges,
ballast water, live wells, or any other
equipment that holds water.
What
do they eat?
They are primarily algae feeders.
They feed by filtering up to a liter of
water per day through a siphon.
Why
should we be concerned about these mussels?
These
mussels are filter feeders that consume
large portions of the microscopic plants
and animals that form the base of the
food web. The removal of significant amounts
of phytoplankton from the water can cause
a shift in native species and a disruption
of the ecological balance of the lake.
These
mussels often settle in massive colonies
that can block water intake and affect
municipal water supply and agricultural
irrigation and power plant operation.
In the United States, Congressional
researchers estimated that zebra mussels
alone cost the power industry $3.1 billion
in the 1993-1999 period, with their impact
on industries, businesses, and communities
more than $5 billion.
Mussels
were only found in one area of Lake Mead.
How can that become a problem?
These
invasive mussels can live for three to
five years and can release 30,000 to 40,000
fertilized eggs in a breeding cycle and
one million fertilized eggs in a year.
Do
these mussels have any predators?
These mussels do not have many
natural predators in North America, but
it has been documented that several species
of fish and diving ducks have been known
to eat them.
What
can I do to help?
It is up to each of us to take
extra precautions to stop the spread of
mussels or any other invasive species.
The following actions should be taken
with any equipment used in potentially
infested waters:
-
All
equipment (e.g., dive gear, boats,
trailers, motors, etc.) should be
visually and tactically (by feel)
inspected for the presence of zebra
mussels prior to and after use in
any water body. Additionally, any
vegetation attached to this equipment
must be removed and left at the site
of origin.
-
Remove
all sediment and gritty organic materials;
these could actually be zebra mussel
veligers (juveniles).
-
Clean
and scrub boat hulls, motors, anchors
and trailers. Then hose equipment
with hot (140° F) and/or high-pressure
water. Bilges, live wells, and
any other compartments that could
hold water should be drained at the
site of origin, and, if possible,
flushed with disinfectant or hot water.
All boat equipment should be allowed
to remain completely dry for at least
24 hours before being used again.
-
Thoroughly clean all other equipment (nets, poles, etc.) in a saltwater bath (1/2 cup per gallon) or with hot tap water. Ensure that all equipment remains completely dry for at least 24 hours before being used again. Pay special attention to those areas and equipment that can hold water.
-
Take
similar precautions with waders, bait
buckets, and other equipment that
can hold water or comes into contact
with water.
Map
of Lake Mead
Zebra
mussels were found at Las Vegas Boat Harbor
and Lake Mead Marina on 1/6/07. See anchor
icons above.
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