Zebra Mussels

[ScarletArrow]

How do you guys prevent these from infiltrating your private ski lakes? For those who don't know, these are a major invasive species that got transported here through the great lakes.

[Horton]

Are they good with garlic and butter?

 

[ScarletArrow]

I suppose, but you would need a few thousand of them to challenge your morning bowl of fruit loops.

[Deke]

If your water source is via irrigation and it is "infected" I'm not sure there's much you can do. Those mussels will grow in ditches, pipes, engine blocks, just about anywhere and can choke things up. The way they usually spread, though is by boats/trailers that carry the larvae from other infected waters. Don't let anyone put their boat in your lake that has been somewhere else without first cleaning the hull, trailer, bilge, and cooling system. Colorado is now enforcing this on public lakes. Here's a link...

 

http://wildlife.state.co.us/Fishing/MandatoryBoatInspections.htm

[Steven]

In Canyon Lake Ca. your boat has to be inspected or tagged (not sure) on the way out of the gates and also on the way back in. On the way out they put a special zip tie or something on the trailer eye. If that zip tie has been tampered with the security guards can tell and some how or another they either make you clean the boat and trailer or keep your boat out of the water for a period of time. Our problem is the Quaga Mussel. I'm a little un-clear of all of the details (as you can tell) I never pull my boat out of the gates so I can avoid all of these issues

[lkb]

they showed up in my lake(mussels anyway, I'm assuming they're zebra) about 3 yrs ago. I have also been finding small(about one third the size of a pencil eraser) kind of translucent snail shell looking shells(empty) in the primary water strainer of my boat. I think MS said this maybe part of the life cycle of the mussel.

[Old MS Accout]

Zebras will show up and dominate fast. They will cling to pipes and posts and form big clumps. Bleach all trailers comming to your water.  

[Steven]

From what I've heard, you don't even want to take the chance of letting them into your lake. Bad news!

[ScarletArrow]

how does one bleach a trailer MS? i've also heard of running a diluted solution of bleach through the water intake of the engine...anyone else know of this?

[Old MS Accout]

People use hand sprayers with a bleach solution up here. They soak the boat hull and trailer and let sit. The run a solution through the engine and let sit also.

It takes some time but it could pay off.

[ScarletArrow]

Sprayer makes sense for trailer. What kind of system is used to get the solution into the engine? I'm aware of a flush kit, but that just hooks up a conventional garden hose, how do get the solution into the water source?

[Deke]

SA, you could drain the block, then refill with solution through the big water pump hose. Just disconnect at the thermostat end and fill. Not sure about the manifolds though.

[Old MS Accout]

Pull the lake in take hose and put it into a 5 gallon bucket full of bleach/water

[DW]

SA, yes a local tournament lake mandates a bleach / water solution purge of the circulation system of any boat coming in to that particular lake.  In addition, a bleach / water "bath" of the hull prior to launch.  An excellent policy IMO for midwestern lakes.

The classic transportation system for zebra mussels is the fisherman / recreational wally weekend drop in at any particular lake.  Many drop in boaters are not concerned about other's lake condition, so they tend to be less considerate and many times less informed about the potential problems with zebra mussels along with the fact that these mobile boaters have used numerous other lakes.  The initial effect of zebra mussels is an improvment to water clarity as they are basically a resident water filter.  The down side to the water clarity improvment is it will drastically increase the plant life growth cycle as the sunlight used for growth will be much more abundant.  As mentioned, do everything in your power to keep them out.

[Gern Blanston]

Ditto what DW said.  I'd also add that they are sharp little buggers.  It's very easy to cut your hand/feet on them.

I can't believe a bleach solution would be very good for your gel coat or the hoses on the intake system, the impeller, etc. 

[lkb]

For the lakes where it's too late, how do get them gone?

[Old MS Accout]

LKB,

BlueBill ducks love to eat them.

I dont think you have them in your lake. They would be all over your boat house polls and lift. 

[lkb]

Yeah they are just on the beach at my lake. Have seen goldeneye there, no bluebills though. Was it you that told me that about the little snail shells in the water strainer?

[Old MS Accout]

Nope, unless I was in the middle of a few Yuinglings..........

[lkb]

Considering that I know how you feel about yingalings, the odds of that are pretty high.

 

Maybe the iguana will start eating the mussels.