Zebra Mussels... others may be aware of this in OK and elsewhere, but just an FYI..<br /><br />- A New Problem in Oklahoma<br />A small mussel known to greatly impact the environment has been found in the state, prompting concern by state and federal officials. Zebra mussels have been found inside the locks at both Robert S. Kerr and Webbers Falls along the McClellan-Kerr Navigation System, and may already occur in other Oklahoma waters. <br />Researchers believe that zebra mussels were accidentally transported to North America by trans-Atlantic ships. They were first found in the United States in St. Clair, Michigan, in 1986, and are expected to spread throughout the majority of the U. S. waterways within a decade. <br />What Are Zebra Mussels? <br />Most zebra mussels are thumbnail size. They have an elongated, D-shaped, somewhat pointed, thin shell with a zebra-like pattern of stripes. <br />Adult zebra mussels can be as large as 1 1/2 to two inches and live up to five years of age. They have threadlike filaments used to attach themselves to boat hulls, reefs, navigational buoys and other submerged objects. <br />Zebra mussels reach sexual maturity when they are about one-half inch in length. Females typically produce from 30,000 to 100,000 eggs per season, but can produce a million eggs in a single season. Reproduction can occurs when water temperatures are between 54 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. <br />Due to their high reproductive rate and the limited number of natural predators, zebra mussels can significantly populate a body of water in two or three years. They can cluster together with hundreds of thousands per square meter. <br />Possible Impacts <br />The zebra mussel's reproductive and living habits have raised concerns that they may affect the American aquatic environment. By altering the food chain and water chemistry, as well as through sheer numbers of mussels, native aquatic species may be adversely impacted. <br />Zebra mussels may also affect man made facilities either built in water or that transport water. They clog water intake pipes and disrupting water withdrawal operations. This causes problems with lakeshore municipalities and industries, power plants, farms and irrigation systems. More than 70 percent of U.S. power plants are expected to be affected by the year 2000. <br />High water flow rates inside pipes provide a constant source of food for the mussels. There, they cluster in mats on top of each other, lining the inside of pipes. The larger facilities of the Great Lakes are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in efforts to eradicate the Zebra mussel. <br />Researchers face the challenge of finding a way to eliminate the zebra mussel without harming native species. Experimental methods for controlling the mussels have included chlorination, thermal flushing, mechanical filtration, anti-fouling paints, electrical shock and acoustics. Although some treatments have proven effective for spot control, eliminating zebra mussels once they are established is not likely. <br />****************************************************<br />Problems and Solutions for Boaters <br />Boat owners who frequent known zebra mussel waters, such as the Navigation System, should be especially cautious. The mussels attach themselves to, and grow within, water intakes of both inboard and outboard motors. Subsequent restriction of water flow can cause motors to overheat. <br /><br />They also attach themselves to boat hulls, which affects boat handling, reduces fuel efficiency and slows boat speed. If a boat hull feels grainy or gritty, it might be covered with young zebra mussels, which are about .02 millimeters long. <br /><br />As prevention, boats should not be left in the water for extended periods of time. With regular use, engine heat will keep mussels from colonizing inside most engine parts. Because microscopic zebra mussel larvae can be unknowingly transported in bilges, engine cooling systems, minnow buckets, live wells and anywhere water is trapped, the following pre- cautions should be taken to help slow their spread. <br />* Drain the bilge water, live wells and bait buckets. <br />* Inspect the boat and trailer immediately upon leaving the water. <br />* Scrape off any zebra mussels found. Do not return them to the water. <br />* If possible, dry the boat and trailer for at least a week before entering another waterway. <br />* Wash boat parts and accessories that contact the water using hot water (at least 140 degrees F.), a 10 percent solution of household chlorine bleach and water, or a hot saltwater solution. Do not wash your boat at the boat ramp where these solutions could pollute the water. Always finish with a clean water rinse. <br />These tips will help protect our environment from further spread of this mussel and will help protect water users from expensive repairs and mussel clean-up costs. <br /><br />For the Future <br />To address Oklahoma's zebra mussel problem, a task force has been formed. The task force includes representatives from the Wildlife Department, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Oklahoma Biological Survey, U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. <br /><br />Throughout the summer, Oklahoma water ways will be monitored by task force agencies to find out how far the zebra mussel has spread. The task force is asking people who find zebra mussels to collect some and contact any task force agency. <br /><br />For more information about zebra mussels or to report findings, call:<br /><br />U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (918) 669-7411, or<br />Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife (405) 521-3721
