Hords Creek Lake in Coleman County has been classified as” infested” with invasive zebra mussels by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department( TPWD ), indicating that the lake is home to a well-established, reproducing population.
In April, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel discovered a second camel mussel fastened to dam infrastructure. Following up with beach and material surveys, TPWD biologists found the presence of various size classes of zebra mussels. The survey’s findings suggest that there is a reproducing people in the waterbody.
When rivers O. H. Ivie and Brownwood were designated as infested in 2020 and 2021, both, zebra mussels started to spread westward in Texas. Although Horns Creek Lake is close to these two waterbodies, there were no reports of aggressive mussels before April.
According to Brian Van Zee, the regional director of TPWD Inland Fisheries, zebra mussels have then spread to 35 Texas lake, but there are still many more that haven’t been invaded and are in danger. ” Every boater can make a big difference in protecting our Texas lake by taking steps to clean and dump their boat before leaving the lake, and by allowing divisions and items to dry completely when they get back.”
Boats play a crucial role in preventing zebra mussels from spreading to fresh lakes because they are most frequently transported on or in canoes. Zebra mussels can live for days underwater and frequently hide in cracks where they might go unnoticed. They attach to boats and anything else left in the ocean, including anchors. They can be inadvertently transported by leftover water in canoes because their microscopic eggs are invisible to the naked eye.
Before traveling from lake to lakes, TPWD advises boats to wash, discharge, and clean their boats and equipment. Get rid of clay, plants, and other debris. Remove all fluids from the equipment and ship. Open divisions when you get home and, if you can, let all dried entirely for at least a week.
A boat that has been kept in the water at a lake where restrictive mussels are present is good infested and incredibly dangerous for introducing these species to another lake. Call TPWD for guidance at( 512 ) 389-4848 before moving the boat.
In addition to the damage that invasive species can do to lakes’ outdoor areas, water infrastructure, and underwater ecosystems, the transportation of these organisms can lead to legal issues for boaters. In Texas, transporting illegal aquatic invasive species is against the law and carries a fine of up to$ 500 per violation. Before leaving or approaching a body of clean water, boaters are required by law to discharge all waters from their vessel and onboard receptacles, including hook containers. Before leaving a lakes, they may also get rid of all invasive vegetation from the ship and video.
Explore the TPWD YouTube channel for a brief instructional video to learn more about how to effectively fresh, discharge, and dry boats and products. Visit tpwd to find out more about horse oysters and other invasive types in Texas. Texas. StopInvasives.gov / Stop
In Texas lakes, TPWD and its partners keep an eye out for invasive species, but anyone who sees one on moving boats, trailers, or other equipment can help stop new introductions by notifying them at( 512 ) 389-4848. By emailing photos and location details to[ email protected ], anyone who discovers invasive species like zebra mussels in lakes they haven’t previously been discovered can aid in identifying new introductions.
