Invasive Zebra Mussels Take Over Hords Creek Lake Within Month of First Sighting — Texas

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department claimed that within a month of their initial sighting, invasive zebra mussels had completely taken over Hords Creek Lake in Coleman County.

The lake has been classified as completely infested by the invasive species, according to TPWD.

Invasive Zebra Mussels in 35 Texas Lakes

One zebra mussel was discovered in April by US Army Corps of Engineers personnel tied to a dam substructure.

Zebra mussels of different sizes were discovered in later surveys, proving that they have been reproducing.

Hords Creek Lake had no reports of zebra mussels before April, but the nearby OH Ivie and Brownwood Lakes had previously been noted as having an infestation.

These areas are all nearby Abilene, Texas.

According to wildlife experts, boaters contributed significantly to the spread of these invasive zebra mussels to new lakes, but there are precautions they may do to help minimize infestations.

Avoiding the Spread

Boaters can stop the spread of the disease, according to officials, by clearing up garbage from their boats, emptying water, and letting equipment dry off.

Unfortunately, zebra mussels have already spread to 35 Texas lakes, but many more lakes in Texas have not yet been infected and are at risk, according to Brian Van Zee, the TPWD's regional director for inland fisheries.

Each boater can play a significant role in safeguarding Texas lakes by taking the necessary procedures to clean and drain their boat before leaving the lake and allowing compartments and equipment to dry completely when they return home.

Medina Lake, Lake Placid, and Canyon Lake are all considered to be completely infested in the San Antonio region, KSAT.com reported.

Zebra or quagga mussel transit or ownership is prohibited in Texas, according to TexasInvasives.org.

Before departing or approaching public waterways, boaters must dry out their vessels.

All sizes and types of boats fall under this.

For the first offense, violations are Class C misdemeanors, punishable by a fine of up to $500.

The proliferation of the mussels in numerous Texas lakes is being monitored by TPWD, which published a map listing the locations so that people could see where they have been found.

Zebra Mussels

Small, freshwater bivalve shellfish known as zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are thought to have arrived in the United States as stowaways in ship ballast water.

They originated in the southern regions of the Caspian and Black Seas, near Russia and Ukraine, and have since spread widely over Europe and the US.

One of the more noticeable effects zebra mussels can have on a local economy is "biofouling," or the collection of adult zebra mussels on surfaces placed in the water.

Zebra mussels have "byssal threads," which are root-like protein strands, that help them firmly cling to hard objects like rocks, native mussels, docks, and boats.

Additionally, biofouling is a concern in the natural realm.

When present in sufficient quantities, zebra mussels will cling to native mussels like how they do docks, obstructing their ability to move, feed, reproduce, or control water flow.

Additionally, zebra mussels outcompete native species for food and habitat, and because of their rapid reproduction, they can easily overwhelm a water system, the National Park Service reported.