zebra mussels in Lake Minnetonka!!

[Big Island Lifer]

I can't describe how ticked off I am to see this.
http://m.startribune.com/articles/199747035?event=Referral+Headlines

How many of you are currently dealing with these buggers? How do they affect your boat, motor, and overall boating experience?

Please help talk me off a cliff.

Thanks
Darren

 

[Slippery When Wet]

My bigger concern is for Asian Carp making it up to the St Croix River. :smt009

 

[Dave S]

I think it is only a matter of time before the majority of fresh water lakes are infested. I would like to know what boaters (who are wet slipped) do about these things. I suppose they can attach themselves to just about everything. Is there an anti-fouling paint that works well against them? Do they get into strainers or the intakes of motors and out drives?

Dave

 

[Slippery When Wet]

I think it is only a matter of time before the majority of fresh water lakes are infested. I would like to know what boaters (who are wet slipped) do about these things. I suppose they can attach themselves to just about everything. Is there an anti-fouling paint that works well against them? Do they get into strainers or the intakes of motors and out drives?

Dave

From the linked article:

In places where they've become established, the fingernail-sized mussels proliferate by the millions, consume food needed by fish, clog water intake pipes, ruin fish spawning beds and litter beaches and shallow areas with razor-sharp shells.

 

[AKBASSKING]

Washington State and Oregon require inspections and a decal I think to make sure your boat is not bring in bad critters.

The PNW crew know more I am sure........

 

[jpk33]

There were one of the biggest (recent) invasive species that caused major concern in Lake Michigan and the rest of the Great Lakes (we also have the sea lamprey and the goby and the ever threatening asian carp). They can attach themselves to metal (quite readily), like intake pipes, mooring/dock chains etc.. but they seem to shy away from bottom paint (and anything coated with it such as engine/generator/AC raw water intakes). They have an unbelivable ability to filter water. Treatments have been developed to treat water intakes/discharges. Once they establish themselves they are there to stay. Be very carefull once they establish themselves they are razor sharp and if you dock-dive you can get sliced up really easily.

 

[sbw1]

Zebra mussels have little effect on boats that have painted bottoms and are used on a weekly basis. After the infestation, the population will soar. The body of water will be filtered by the mussel and the food supply will be reduced and the population crashes. We draw our irriigation water from a well point under our dock. The point is wrapped in copper screen and the point is free of zebra mussels in the fall. There used to be zebras on the ground beneath our marina's boat lift that were power washed off of boats being pulled for storage. No more. I have not seen a zebra mussel on my boat in 6-8 years. The concern is somewhat overblown.

 

[Daniel P Thomas]

I agree with Frank above.

Down on the South end of Lake Michigan they were and still are a bit of a problem.

That said, with the filtering of the water, it got cleaner, which in turn allowed the fresh water sponge to increase in population.

The sponges attached themselves to the zebras and have since, mainly controlled their population.

If a boat is warmed up to operating temperature at least once a week and/or run a bit the mussels will not proliferate on the boat.

There may be a few on your outdrives, but not enough to affect the operation of the boat. As long as the boat is used!!!

Being a Environmental Science/Biology Major in college (way back when) you usually see mother nature take care of things faster than man/government/committees can.

Asian Carp are another issue to be addressed.

Hopefully with the state signing an agreement with the Chinese to allow exporting of the fish and netting they will be able to control this invasive species.


My $0.02 worth today.
Off of the soap box for the evening.
Miller Lite calling!!
Dan

 

[VTSeaRay]

Lake Champlain got them about 10-15 yrs ago, and the main portion of the lake is now completely infested with them. The intakes to the fisheries and our fresh water intake for the main water system in Burlington/chittenden County uses infrared light I believe to kill off the critters (in their early stages). Their range of depth seems to be in the 2' - 15' range, where they proliferate. They attach themselves to anything they can get hold of. Unfortunately, this has caused a die-off of our fresh water clams, since they clog their intakes too, and basically starve to death. But, the water is now the cleanest I've ever seen. The bass and perch have learned to eat them now, so I think that's helped stave off their population some.

You have to be careful and wear water shoes when walking in the water, and if you're going to touch the bottom rocks with your hands, wear gloves (I like to turn rocks over underwater looking for crayfish for bass fishing).

-VtSeaRay