Leaping out of the lakes: Invasive mussels spread across America

[PBH]

a few discussion lately about this issue. There are many who really want to fault the local agencies -- but in reality, this is a huge issue for numerous states across the U.S. and Canada. It's going to take more than just our local DWR to stop this.

This is a great read. Maybe a bit long, but it sure has some good content:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/l...15281.html
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[Quicky]

Interesting read. A little bit depressing knowing that its really just a matter of time before all waterways are contaminated. I find it that there were some sneaking in and launching before being decontaminated. I know at buckboard sometimes the check station is not open when people are launching. Who knows where some of those boats came from.

On a side note, if you happen to have a quagga mussel on your boat you are in violation of Utah law, whether you know the mussel is there or not. From what I read you can be prosecuted for transporting that mussel even if you don't know it's there. Ignorance does not keep the law off your butt so that should be something to keep in mind.
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[RockyRaab]

I love Arizona's slogan:

Don't Move A Mussel

The problem, as I see it, is boaters who simply don't give a rat's ass about the results of their actions. They want to go where they want and act like they want, period. I do not restrict this to the power squadron, although that's largely where the problem is. ALL of us bear some blame.
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[HD7000]

It's easy to point fingers with such a destructive invasive species being spread so quickly. But I think that it was inevitable that this was eventually going to happen and they will continue to spread despite the efforts of various agencies. Yes, it is extremely important that we do our best to prevent transporting them, and those who sneak around the law should be prosecuted to the full extent! But studies show that they can be transported on the feathers of birds as well as by humans... This problem has already past the threshold of prevention (yes we still need to prevent human transportation) but we need to devote more recourses to developing a cure for the problem! There are scientists who have developed a bacteria that will kill the mulloscs with a very minimal affect on the surrounding marine environment. Let's kick a few dollars over to their R&D Dept and start knocking these things out!
Here is an encouraging article...
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/sci...erer=&_r=0
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[Majja]

PBH Do you know of any species of fish or other organism that can battle agains the mussels? Perhaps something from their home waters?
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[Quicky]

There is one fish that was mentioned in the comments of the article. A redear sunfish. It would do well at Powell but at colder water areas I'm not sure about.
Sometimes called a shellcracker.
I think a cure for the quagga mussels is going to be better for long term than prevention.
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[PBH]

the redear sunfish utilize quaggas as a source of food.
However, those fish have never been able to control a quagga population.

Redear sunfish are already in Havasu. They get big. But, again, they do not control quagga populations.
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[AlexB]

This is very interesting topic. Almost tempts me to change careers and become a researcher to find a solution to this problem.[:p]

Is there any type of materials that the things won't "stick" to? Build all the pipes out of that. I know the real solution is to kill the things somehow.
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[HD7000]

Here is a little picture to put into perspective just how invasive/destructive these little guys can be. The picture is of a tennis shoe that was in a quagga infested lake for only 3.5 months! kinda scary...
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[dubob]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]I talked with a fishing fanatic friend of mine in Michigan this morning and asked if they are getting a handle on the mussel problem there. His answer was yes & no. There is a product available that is 100% effective at killing zebra and quagga mussels; it's called Zequanox. Here is a dated [/#800000][/font][url "http://lake-savers.com/new-hope-for-zebra-and-quagga-mussels/"][font "Comic Sans MS"][#0000ff]article[/#0000ff][/font][/url][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000] (from 2013) about the product and its initial success. There's just one MAJOR problem with using it - the cost. It is super expensive and most state budgets can't support the cost. But there is hope that we may see some gains in controlling it in the not too distant future.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Regardless, there just isn't any real excuse for the lack of commitment by the total boating community as a whole to take 100% responsibility for cleaning up after ourselves. And I've said for over 15 years that there is no way in Hell to prevent the spread, even WITH 100% commitment by ALL boaters. It is a proven, scientific fact that water birds do carry the microscopic larvae, called [/#800000][/font][url "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veligers"][/url][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]vilegers, from one body of water to another. To be sure, it is a minuscule amount. But it has been, is, and will continue to be, part of the problem and eventually they will be everywhere unless we can find a way to economically kill them in massive numbers.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Zequanox may just be the answer, but it is far to early to know for sure. So for the time being, we need to do our part to slow the spread.[/#800000][/font]
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[Majja]

These are one of the most scary things to effect our lakes that I know of. Next to a radio active spill. IE Chernobyl or 3 mile Island.
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