Texans take advantage of the Fourth of July vacation to soak up the summer moon on the water. During the height of the boating season, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department ( TPWD ) urges boaters and paddlers to take action to protect the state’s beloved Texas lakes from aquatic invasive species.
According to Brian Van Zee, TPWD Inland Fisheries local director,” We want everyone to have a great time, but we also want to avoid giving invasive species free rides to new lake.” Every time you visit a lake,” tidy, drain, and clean your boats and equipment,” according to experts.
clGiant salvinia, a very aggressive, free-floating underwater grass that can increase its coverage area in a week, is one of the key threats to our lakes. This aggressive plant can produce wet floor mats that make hunting, fishing, swimming and other water recreation almost impossible.
Giant salvinia is already present on 27 lakes in East Texas and many streams, rivers, and marshes between Houston and Beaumont. Giant salvinia was 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.
” There’s no doubt that Texans love their rivers, but we also need Texans to take action to help protect them”, said John Findeisen, TPWD watery habitat improvement group result. A difficult infestation in a fresh lake can only be caused by a small fragment of an invasive plant. Avoiding long-term, expensive efforts to manage aquatic invasive species once they have established themselves in a river by preventing the introduction of these types. It only takes a small amount of our time as dependable boaters to wash, discharge, and clean our boats and products to stop new introductions of aquatic invasive species. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
In Texas, giant salvinia and zebra mussels are still present in new locations. Other highly invasive species, such as water hyacinth, crested and yellow floating heart, and quagga mussels, can also be spread or introduced by boaters, despite their continuing to be some of the biggest threats to Texas lakes.
Zebra mussels, a non-native shellfish that attaches to hard surfaces, pose a significant threat to our lakes. These invasive mussels harm local communities, damage boat and water supply and control, and erode lake ecosystems. They also litter shorelines with hazardous, sharp shells that impact lakefront recreation.
Zebra mussels can now be found in 37 Texas lakes in seven river basins as well as in river reaches downstream of infected lakes. Zebra and closely related quagga mussels are early detected by TPWD and partners in numerous at-risk lakes around the state, but nothing can be done to stop them once they have been introduced and have established themselves in a lake.
According to Monica McGarrity, TPWD senior scientist for aquatic invasive species,” Zebra mussels and quagga mussels can be attached to boats or even carried by anchors or attached to plants clinging to boats.” In the boat, microscopic zebra mussel larvae can also be transported in 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 moving from lake to lake, TPWD urges boaters to adhere to these three easy but necessary steps: wash, dry, and drain boats and gear. Remove plants, mud and debris, drain all water from the boat and gear, once back home, open compartments and allow everything to dry completely for at least a week, if possible.
If a boat or other piece of equipment has been improperly decontaminated in the water of a lake with invasive mussels, it is likely infested and poses a significant risk of moving these invasive species to a different lake. Before moving the boat, call TPWD at ( 512 ) 389-4848 for guidance.
Boaters may encounter legal issues as a result of invasive species ‘ transport, in addition to the harm they can cause to aquatic ecosystems, water infrastructure, and the recreational experience at lakes. The Texas law prohibits the transportation of prohibited aquatic invasive species, and each violation is punishable by a fine of up to$ 500. Boaters are required to clear any water from their boats and onboard receptacles, including bait buckets, before approaching or leaving a body of fresh water, according to the law. Before leaving a lake, they must also remove any invasive plants from the trailer and boat.
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 equipment moving can help prevent new introductions by reporting the sighting to TPWD at ( 512 ) 389-4848. TPWD and partners monitor for invasive species in Texas lakes. Anyone who discovers invasive species like zebra mussels in lakes where they have n’t previously been found can send email to aquaticinvasives@tpwd.texas with photos and location information. gov
