Stop Invasive Mussels. Clean, drain and dry
What are Invasive mussels?
Zebra and Quagga mussels are a small, destructive invasive species that can spread across Texas by hitching a ride on boats and trailers. They grow to only about 1 ½ inches and develop a distinctive zebra-striped shell. One zebra or quagga mussel can produce up to one million microscopic larvae per year. Invasive mussels can cause tremendous environmental and economic damage – hurting aquatic life, damaging your boat, hindering water recreation and even threatening your water supply.
Where are Invasive mussels?
The following Texas lakes are classified as “infested” with zebra mussels: Amistad, Austin, Belton, Bridgeport, Brownwood, Buchanan, Canyon, Dean Gilbert (a 45-acre Community Fishing Lake in Sherman), Diversion (private lake downstream of Medina Lake), Eagle Mountain, Georgetown, Granger, Grapevine, Hords Creek, Inks, Lady Bird, Lewisville, Livingston, Lyndon B. Johnson, Marble Falls, Medina, O.H. Ivie, Pflugerville, Placid, Randell (local Denison access only), Ray Roberts, Richland Chambers, Stillhouse Hollow, Texoma, Travis, Walter E. Long, and Worth. Invasive mussels or their larvae have been detected on multiple occasions in several lakes, which are designated as “positive.” Lakes Dunlap, Fishing Hole, Lavon, and McQueeney, as well as river reaches downstream on the Colorado, Guadalupe, Lampasas, Leon, Little, Red, and Trinity rivers, are classified as “positive” for zebra mussels and Lake Amistad is currently classified as “positive” for quagga mussels in addition to being “infested” for zebra mussels. Lake Ray Hubbard is classified as “suspect” for zebra mussels. View map.
You can't always see invasive mussels because their larvae are invisible to the naked eye. They can survive for days in water trapped in a boat. The only way to be sure you're not carrying invasive mussels to another body of water is to always clean, drain and dry your boat, trailer, and gear.
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CLEAN Clean your boat, trailer and gear by removing all plants, animals and foreign objects. |
DRAIN Drain all water from the boat, including the motor, bilge, live wells and bait buckets, before leaving the lake. |
DRY Dry the boat and trailer for a week or more before entering another water body. If unable to let it dry for at least a week, wash it with a high-pressure washer and hot (at least 140-degree), soapy water. |
Transporting Invasive mussels is illegal
Possession or transportation of zebra or quagga mussels in Texas is a Class C misdemeanor for the first offense, punishable by a fine of up to $500. Repeat offenses can be elevated to a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $2,000, jail time up to 180 days, or both.
Boaters are required to drain all water from their vessel, including live wells, bilges, motors, and any other receptacles, before approaching or leaving a water body. This applies to all types and sizes of boats used on fresh waters, effective July 1.
Learn more about regulations related to zebra and quagga mussels.
We need your help to stop the spread of invasive mussels! Please report any new sightings, and if possible, take a picture of the zebra or quagga mussel and record its GPS location.
Facts about Invasive mussels
Check out the Zebra and Quagga mussel profiles in the Invasive Animals Database for more information on biology, history, habitat, distribution, and management of this invasive species.
**Quagga profile pending...**
not Invasive mussels
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Invasive mussels multiply rapidly over large areas, lack natural predators in Texas lakes and can cause tremendous environmental and economic damage.
- Invasive mussels can damage boats by encrusting boat hulls; clogging water systems used in boat motors, air conditioners and heads; and by causing navigation buoys to sink.
- Invasive mussels can disrupt water supplies by colonizing inside pipelines and restricting the flow of water, damaging water intake structures that provide water to thousands of homes and businesses, making water more expensive.
- Invasive mussels take over habitats from native species, damaging lake ecology and affecting fish populations.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has developed this public awareness campaign to stop the spread of invasive mussels and the devastating threat they pose to our state's aquatic ecosystems, private property and water-related infrastructure, such as water supply systems. This campaign is made possible by a coalition of partners, including:
- Tarrant Regional Water District
- Trinity River Authority
- City of Dallas
- North Texas Municipal Water District
- Sabine River Authority
- Brazos River Authority
- San Jacinto River Authority
- Guadalupe Blanco River Authority
- Lower Colorado River Authority
- Coastal Water Authority
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- Water Oriented Recreation District of Comal County
- Upper Trinity Regional Water District
