Zebra mussels invade another Texas lake

Another Texas water body has become infested by the invasive zebra mussel. Recently, Canyon Lake, a hill country reservoir in the Guadalupe River Basin, was added to the list of reservoirs affected by zebra mussels after Texas Parks and Wildlife Department confirmed their presence.

Canyon Lake is 30 miles north of San Antonio and 40 miles southwest of Austin, and it is the first lake within the Guadalupe River Basin to become infested with zebra mussels. The infestation in Canyon Lake now poses a risk of further the expansion of zebra mussels to other nearby lakes within the basin.

Zebra mussels are invasive freshwater mussels native to Eurasia and were introduced into the Great Lakes during the 1980s. Since then, the mussels have expanded their range throughout the United States, including Texas. Since the discovery of zebra mussels in Texas, 10 lakes have been classified as infested; zebra mussels have become an established reproducing population in Lake Texoma, Ray Roberts, Belton, Bridgeport, Dean Gilbert, Lewisville, Eagle Mountain, Lewisville, Stillhouse Hollow, and Canyon.

When zebra mussels are introduced, they can cause tremendous environmental and economic damage. Zebra mussels can hurt aquatic life, damage watercraft, hinder water recreation and even threaten water supplies. Controlling zebra mussels is very difficult given their prolific nature and small size.

Zebra mussel larvae are microscopic, and the adults have striped shells less than 1½ inches long. They can live for several days out of water and can be dispersed over land by trailered boats, though their main method of spread is by free-floating larvae. Again, thorough checking of your boat will aid in preventing the spread of zebra mussels as well as other invasive species.

In Texas, it is illegal to possess or transport invasive species, and one way boaters can unknowingly transport zebra mussel larvae is leaving a lake with lake water in their boats. Zebra mussel larvae are microscopic, free-floating and could be easily transported in lake water on vessels. Anyone leaving or approaching a public water body must drain all water from their vessel. The law applies to any boat including, but not limited to, personal watercraft, sailboats, kayaks, and canoes. If boaters move from once access point to another on the same lake during the same day, draining is not required.

You can help prevent the spread of zebra mussels, and TPWD suggests everyone should clean, drain, dry their boats, trailers and gear. Clean the plants, animals and foreign objects off your boat and trailer. Drain the water from your boat, boat motors, bilge, live wells and bait buckets before leaving the reservoir. Any possession or transportation of zebra mussels in Texas is against the law. Any angler or boater in a public reservoir must drain any water from their boat before leaving the area around the reservoir or risk being ticketed. Dry your trailer and boat making sure you open all hatches and live wells.

Big Country reservoirs are at risk of invasive species infestations, and TPWD wants everyone to be educated about the potential effects of zebra mussels introductions and how to prevent their spread. Please spread the word of invasive species threats and discuss with others how the spread of invasive species can be prevented, as well as practice these techniques during your boating and fishing trips. An introduction can happen in West Texas reservoirs with one instance of not properly cleaning a boat or trailer. Once zebra mussels become established, there is no known way to get rid of them. They can survive in many types of habitat and reproduce prolifically.

If you would like more information on zebra mussels, visit the webpage www.texasinvasives.org/zebramussels/

Goldstrohm is a fisheries biologist with the TPWD. For information on area reservoirs, fishing opportunities and questions about invasive species, please contact the Abilene Inland Fisheries district office at 325-692-0921, send an email to Natalie.Goldstrohm@tpwd.texas.gov, or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tpwdifabilene