This is a 'heads up' for anyone who doesn't know about zebra mussels that are quickly invading the lakes across the U.S. It is suspected that they hitched a ride on a cargo ship coming from somewhere oversees and were released into the waters of the Great Lakes via bilge water.
here is a shore photo from a lake in Kansas that I visited last fall:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64069794@N03/8392071151/in/set-72157632554935958/lightbox/
After sailing in 'infected' waters, it is imperative that we thoroughly wash our boats before moving to lakes where there are no mussels. I just discovered this threat less than 2 yrs ago and thought I would let you all know. See the interactive map below and click on the years at the top to see how they are migrating, mostly on boats.
http://www.nationalatlas.gov/dynamic/an_zm.html
j
Edited by arch on Jan 18, 2013 - 12:03 PM.
Yep. Arizona lakes have had wash down requirements for a couple of years.
We have them in KS, I am pretty sure that is not our lake. Nasty little things, like tight places, they get into all the through hulls on the big boats in our harbor. Keep your boat out of the water for 5 days if going to a different lake. Ricardo.
r,
good advice. thanks!
the photo was from milford lake, ks......not lake perry. i took the photo (see my size 12's?) 😉
http://www.flickr.com/pho…57632554935958/lightbox/
i pried a couple of mussels off the rocks with my fingers and couldn't believe how tenaciously they were holding on. like they had roots. broke the shells doing it.
j
I had a guy from Greenville MS bring me a small cabin cruiser when I had the marina here. His boat was overheating due to Zebra Mussels in the cooling system. Nasty little boogers. Hard part was getting all the shells out of the system without tearing everything down for a total rebuild - well really wasnt hard Just had to think it thru a bit
Capt Teach
The fisrt Zebra/Quagga infestation west of the Mississippi was Lake Mead in 2007.
They have now moved downstream to Lake Havasu.
Nasty invasive and destructive creatures.
Arch are you at Milford? Great lake just a little too far for us on the east side of KC. Cheers Ricardo.
r,
i'm up in NE. but my little friends and i might travel to milford for some sailing this summer. we're getting bored with our lake and have starting traveling occasionally. one of us has a N5.5 Uni (no spin)
should we consider lake perry as a destination?
j
(sorry, i'm getting off topic......)
Edited by arch on Jan 24, 2013 - 09:49 AM.
Shoot me an email, if you want. Richard AT northracecars.com I have been going to Perry since 89, but I would go to milford before Perry, bigger better beaches, etc. Sorry for the hijack. Ricardo.
here is another good site for Invasive Species mitigation which includes a list of other problem plants/animals/pathogens.
http://snr.unl.edu/invasives/pdfs/AIS%20Decontamination%20Protocol%20-%20General%20Use.pdf
As someone who's lived with them for 10+ years here in Michigan and Indiana, I feel they may not be the horror story you might imagine. They are definitely a PITA (I've had plenty of cuts on the feet from them). But, it appears after their initial bloom, they seem to come in to a balance after a few years. In the small lake I frequent a lot of the native clams, snails, etc. that seemed to vanish are now making a comeback. The improved cleanliness of lakes such as St. Claire and Erie also has these guys to thank.
Yes, I wish they'd never come, but its not the end of the world either.