Zebra Mussels

Total zebra mussels removed from Lake George (Reported by Darrin Fresh Water Institute as of July 10, 2007)
King Neptune's Pub - LG Village	21218
Mossy Point - Ticonderoga - Public Launch	1503
Cleverdale - West side	1348
Sandy Bay - East of Cleverdale	377
Roger's Rock	12
Total ZM's removed	24458

What are Zebra Mussels?
Zebra Mussels (Dreissena Polymorpha) are small, freshwater bi-valve mollusks (relatives to clams and oysters) that are triangular in shape with an obvious ridge between the side and bottom. The zebra mussel gets its name from the black (or dark brown) and white striped markings that appear on its shell.

Where are Zebra Mussels From?
Zebra Mussels are native to the Caspian, Black and Aral Sea in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. The Zebra Mussel was first identified in the United States in the waters of Lake St. Clair in June of 1988. It is believed that the Zebra Mussels were introduced into North America through the emptying of ballast water from commercial transatlantic ships into the Great Lakes. Cargo ships carry significant amounts of ballast water to stabilize the vessels during transoceanic crossings. When ballast tanks are filled, many forms of aquatic life in the source water are drawn into the tanks. Once in ballast tanks, organisms can be transported to other areas and subsequently discharged into waters at foreign ports.

How Do Zebra Mussels Spread?
Female Zebra Mussels can each produce up to one million Veligers float in the water If they are unable to find a hard surface, the veligers will soon die. Veligers can be spread through a variety of methods including: water currents, bait and hatchery stocking activities, anglers’ bait bucket water, recreational boat engine cooling water and even scuba gear. Adult Zebra Mussels can spread by “hitchhiking” on organisms such as crayfish or by attaching to boat hulls trailered from one body of water to another.

Biological & Ecological Impacts
Zebra Mussels prefer water temperatures between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit and have a life span of between 2-5 years. (see Life Cycle chart) Zebra Mussels can cause a variety of problems including:

Zebra Mussels are filter feeders that consume large portions of the microscopic plants and animals that form the base of the food web. The removal of significant amounts of phytoplankton from the water can cause a shift in native species and a disruption of the ecological balance of the lake.

Increased water transparency may result in an increase in rooted aquatic vegetation, including nuisance species such as Eurasian Watermilfoil.

Zebra Mussels can reduce native mussel populations by attaching to native mussels hindering movement, feeding and respiration.

Zebra Mussels also may contain high concentrations of toxic materials that will harm or kill fish and wildlife that consume them.

Decaying mussels wash ashore littering beaches and creating a noxious odor.

Residential, Industrial and Recreational Impacts

Zebra Mussels can clog large-scale raw water intake pipes such as municipal drinking water plants, and small-scale water intake pipes of private homes and cottages, causing lost pumping ability, obstructed valves, obnoxious smells from decaying mussel flesh, increased corrosion of cast iron pipes, and safety hazards if sprinkler or hydrant systems are clogged and fail to deliver fire fighting water.

Zebra Mussels can rapidly colonize and foul docks, break walls, boat bottoms, buoys and engine outdrives.

Swimming areas become abandoned due to sharp-edged shells washing up on shore from storms, colonization on rocks near the shoreline, and noxious odors from decomposition of mussels.

Boats may overheat due to Zebra Mussels blocking boat’s engine cooling water intake, also mussels attached to hulls can increase drag, therefore increasing fuel consumption.

Historic, sunken ships and artifacts may become completely obscured by Zebra Mussel colonies growing on them.

8/22/05 - Click here for the draft Adk Park Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan

What you can do to help!

Learn all you can about the Zebra Mussel! (How it spreads, how to identify it, and the threat it poses, and share this information with others.)

Drain bilge water, live wells, engine cooling systems, bait buckets, and any other water from your boat and equipment.

Inspect your boat’s hull, drive unit, trim an trolling plates, prop guards, anchor, and trailer; scrape off and trash any suspected mussels, and vegetation.

Trash leftover bait at the launch site; leftover live bait should not be taken from infested to uninfected waters.

Before launching into unaffected waters, thoroughly flush the hull, drive unit, live wells, bilge, trailer, bait buckets, engine cooling water system, and other boat parts that got wet in infested waters, using a hard spray from a garden hose. Use hot water if your boat was in infested waters for a long period of time. DO NOT use chlorine bleach!

Dry the boat in sun for at least three to five days before launching.

When enjoying the lake this summer, look on rocks, dock frames, your boat hull, anchors, buoys, chains, etc. Zebra Mussels like to attach to hard surfaces.

Zebra Mussels & Lake George

Zebra Mussels were discovered in Lake George’s Southern Basin in December 1999. Archeologists discovered a colony of adult Zebra Mussels near the village walkway along the southern shore. This was the first confirmed incidence of adult Zebra Mussels in the lake. (Zebra Mussels in the microscopic larvae stage (veligers) had previously been found.)

Zebra Mussels have been thriving across the Northeast and Great Lakes since the mid-80s causing billions of dollars in industrial, property and environmental damages. Many lakes surrounding Lake George (most notably Lake Champlain) have been inundated by the newcomers since the early 90s. Whether or not the Zebra Mussel population will balloon in Lake George as it has in other ecosystems is still uncertain. However, what is for sure is that their impact can be limited if preventative measures are taken in the early stages.

The Zebra Mussel poses a multi-billion dollar threat to the Lake George region’s outdoor recreation, tourism, property value and municipal water supply. Zebra Mussels can foul boats and boat engines, foul beaches with washed-up remains, clog water intake pipes and alter water quality and the overall lake ecosystem. Adult Zebra Mussels can be transported by attaching to boat hulls, engines and anchors. Zebra Mussel larvae can be carried in the water of engine cooling systems, bilges, live wells and bait buckets. The best first step towards limiting Zebra Mussel distribution and preventing serious damage to property is to learn how the mussels spread and what protective methods are available.

See also: The Zebra Mussel Task Force

How To Identify The Zebra Mussel

Zebra Mussels look like small clams with a yellowish or brownish “D” –shaped shell, usually with both dark and light-colored stripes.

Zebra Mussels can be up to 2 inches long, but most are under one inch in length. Zebra Mussels grow in clusters containing numerous individuals and are generally found in algae-rich, shallow water (6-30 feet).

Zebra Mussels are the ONLY freshwater mollusk that can firmly attach itself to solid objects including submerged rocks, dock pilings, boat hulls, water intake pipes, etc.

What To Do If You Find Zebra Mussels

Note the date and precise location where the Zebra Mussel(s) was found.

Take the Zebra Mussel(s) with you and store in rubbing alcohol.

IMMEDIATELY contact the Lake George Association (LGA) at (518) 668-3558, the Lake George Park Commission at (518)668-9347 or the Darrin Fresh Water Institute at (518)644-3541.