Exotic Whatever Species Is Chosen

Biology

Zebra Mussels

Zebra mussels are a highly destructive invasive species threatening Texas waters. Zebra mussels can fasten to any solid surface and clog water intakes. They foul boat hulls and break engines, as well as boat docks, ramps and navigational buoys. They cause chaos on the environment, negatively impacting fish and native mussel populations as well as making beaches not viable. They also clog up pipes to municipal water intakes, costing taxpayers lots of money. Every year millions of dollars are spent on combating zebra mussels in the United States (Hello Zebra Mussels Goodbye Texas Boating, n.d.).

One adult zebra mussel is about the size of a dime or so. But one zebra mussel can spawn up to a million eggs a year. So they're very productive and they can spread very fast. The zebra mussel's larvae are minuscule and can't see it with the naked eye. Because of this a new Texas law now necessitates boaters to clean, drain and dry their boats. "Bait wells, engines, fishing nets, even minnow buckets used on the banks. Wildlife experts say even the smallest amount of water introduced somewhere else from an infected waterway can be costly" (Thomas, 2012).

It is thought that Zebra mussels were brought to North America from Europe in the ballast water of ships reproduce intensely and become an enormous straining instrument that strips all of the microscopic nutrients from waterways. "Far from natural predators in their native lands, zebra mussels are powerful life-killers now threatening ecosystems in the Great Lakes, which hold 21% of the earth's fresh surface water" (Schutze, 2012).

For a while after the mussels were found in Texoma, the North Texas Municipal Water District was banned from pumping drinking water out of Texoma into Lake Lavon and distributing it to communities. But the NTMWD recently won authorization to begin pumping again, using a zebra mussel control system far cheaper and less positive than methods used where drinking water is pumped from the Great Lakes (Schutze, 2012).

Texas Parks and Wildlife is considering altering rules at Lake Texoma and Lake Lavon to try and halt the spread of zebra mussels. Parks and Wildlife is suggesting to excuse boaters from some exotic species rules if they empty all bait buckets, live wells, bilges and any other receptacles, containers or systems that could be full of water. Parks and Wildlife is continuing to endorse boater education in the Lake Texoma area. The agency will also employ the use of billboards, posters at gas stations, e-mails to registered voters and postcards in order to get their message out. The Tarrant Regional Water District is also performing spot checks on its lakes and plans more boater education at fishing tournaments this spring. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is also trying to instruct boaters on area corps lakes and how to stop to spread of Zebra Mussels (Hanna, 2012).

If someone boats in zebra mussel infested water, they should dry their boat for five days or clean it thoroughly with hot water that is at least 140 degrees F. If hot water is not accessible, a ten percent bleach solution can be utilized to kill any zebra mussels that are present but unique safety measures must be taken to correctly disposed of the bleach. Bait should not be carried from infested waters to other waters. Instead, unused bait should be poured onto dry land. One should never release bait into the water, and shouldn't' take bait from one water sources to use in another. "Anglers who wade to fish and duck hunters should clean their boots after leaving an infected lake" (Preventing Their Spread, 2009).