Texans across the state have a variety of ways to enjoy the summer sunshine on the water during the Fourth of July vacation. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department ( TPWD ) urges boaters and paddlers to do their part to protect Texas lakes from aquatic invasive species during the height of the boating season.
According to Brian Van Zee, TPWD Inland Fisheries local director,” We want everyone to have a great time, but we also want to prevent us from giving dangerous invasive species free rides to new rivers.” Every time you visit a lake, taking just a few minutes to wash, discharge, and clean your boats and tools, which is the best way to prevent the spread of numerous aquatic invasive species and protect fishing and other recreation for everyone.
Boaters should wash, discharge, and clean their boat because it’s the law. In addition to helping avoid harm to underwater ecosystems, water infrastructure, and the fun experience at lakes. It is against the law to transport prohibited underwater invasive species to Texas. Before leaving or approaching a body of fresh water, boat owners must clear all water from their boat and crew bins, including fish pots, which may include micro invasive species eggs that can be seen with the naked eye. Before leaving a lake, they may also replace all invasive flowers from the ship and video.
Giant salvinia and horse oysters, two of the biggest challenges to Texas lakes, are still present in new areas of the state. Boaters may also bring or spread another highly invasive species, such as water hyacinth, horned and yellow floating hearts, and quagga mussels, or other ones that are not yet found in Texas.
Giant salvinia, an extremely aggressive, free-floating underwater fern that can produce thick surface mats that threaten the ecosystem and underwater life and make swimming, boating, and other water sports almost unavoidable.
Between Houston and Beaumont, there are 26 East Texas lake and many streams, rivers, and swamps where large salvinia is found. Giant salvinia may also travel from one river to another on a boat, truck, or other equipment, despite efforts by TPWD to prevent angling or boating access in Texas open waters.
” Texans love their lake without a doubt, but we ask everyone to support protect them,” said John Findeisen, lead of the TPWD watery habitat improvement team. ” Preventing the introduction of aquatic invasive species avoids expensive, long-term efforts to manage these species once they have established in a river because it only takes a small part of an invasive plant to cause a concern in a new river.” It only takes a few minutes of our responsible paddlers ‘ time to clean, drain, and clean our boats and products to stop new introductions of aquatic invasive species.
Zebra clams, a non-native crab that adheres to hard surfaces, are a major threat to our lakes and our economy. These restrictive mussels injury boat and water supply and control infrastructure, change lake ecosystems, and harm native aquatic life in large numbers. Additionally, they contaminate shorelines with dangerous, sharp shells that have an impact on lakefront activities.
Zebra mussels can now be found in 38 Texas lakes in seven river basins as well as in reaches downstream of infected lakes. For early detection of zebra and closely related quagga mussels, TPWD and partners monitor a number of state’s at-risk lakes. Nothing can be done to control or eradicate them once they have been introduced and established in a lake.
” Zebra mussels and quagga mussels can be attached to boats or even carried by anchors or plants clinging to boats,” said Monica McGarrity, senior scientist for aquatic invasive species at TPWD. ” Microscopic zebra mussel larvae can also be transported in the boat’s residual water. In our efforts to stop the spread of this highly destructive species and the harm to Texas lakes, taking just a few minutes to clean, drain, and dry boats can make a huge difference.
Before traveling from lake to lake, TPWD urges boaters to take the following three easy but necessary steps: remove plants, mud, and debris, drain all water from the boat, and, once back home, open compartments and allow everything to dry completely for at least a week, if possible. Protect the lakes in our fantastic state, which is what Texas residents do!
A boat or other piece of equipment that has been stored in the water of a lake with invasive mussels is likely to have been infected, which puts a very high risk of moving these invasive species to a new lake. Before moving the boat, call TPWD at ( 512 ) 389-4848 for guidance.
Visit the TPWD YouTube channel for a brief instructional video for more information on how to properly clean, drain, and dry boats and equipment. Visit tpwd to learn more about zebra mussels and other invasive species in Texas. Texas. gov/StopInvasives
Anyone who spots invasive species on boats, trailers, or other moving equipment can report it to TPWD at ( 512 ) 389-4848. Despite their efforts, TPWD and partners monitor for them in Texas lakes. By emailing photos and location information to aquaticinvasives@tpwd.texas, anyone who finds invasive species like zebra mussels in lakes where they haven’t been previously can identify new introductions. gov.
