News Releases
Program News
Illinois / Indiana Sea Grant
Boaters are Urged to Avoid Transporting Zebra
Mussels
Memorial Day Weekend marks the opening of summer activities
in the Midwest, and summer activities often include
spending time on the water. In addition to maintaining
safe boating practices, boaters should be aware of ways to
prevent the transportation of nonindigenous species, those
plants and animals not native to the region.
Zebra mussels have moved out of the Great Lakes into inland
waterways. These tiny mollusks attach themselves to boats
and fishing equipment, and their free-swimming young can
live in standing water found in bait buckets and engine
cooling systems. As boats are moved about, zebra mussels
are often unknowingly transported from one body of water to
another.
Zebra mussels were transported from Europe in ballast water
of ships and were found in the Great Lakes in 1988. The
tiny mussels form large clusters that can clog water lines.
Damage can occur in boat engines if cooling systems are
clogged. These clusters represent costly threats to
industries, municipal water plants and agricultural
irrigation systems.
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant nonindigenous specialist Pat
Charlebois noted that clean-up costs and control associated
with zebra mussels are significant. Charlebois said,
"Great Lakes industries and municipal water suppliers spent
an estimated $120 million in clean-up costs in one five-year
period following the zebra mussel invasion."
According to Charlebois, boaters can help slow the spread
of zebra mussels by following a few simple steps:
Inspect boats, trailers and boating equipment and
remove any visible plants or animals.
Drain water from the motor, livewell, bilge and
transom wells while on land before leaving any waterbody.
Empty bait buckets on land before leaving the waterbody. Never release live bait into a
waterbody. Do
not release aquatic animals from one waterbody into another.
Wash/dry boats, tackle, downriggers, trailers and
other boating equipment to kill harmful species not
visible. This task may be done on the way home or after
arrival. Some aquatic nuisance species can survive more
than two weeks out of water, so it is important to do one
of the following:
- rinse boats and equipment with hot water (40C or 140F )
- spray boats and trailers with high pressure water
- dry boats and equipment at least five days before
transporting to another water body
Zebra mussels also harm native species. In
addition to clustering onto native mussels, zebra mussels
filter phytoplankton and zooplankton, small plants and
animals living in the water. This activity affects the food
supply for native species.
Sea Grant research and education has helped reduce
the harmful effects and associated costs of the spread of
zebra mussels. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant activities have
included the following: a regional conference in St. Louis
in 1996 for inland industrial and municipal water users; a
session at the annual Zebra Mussel and Aquatic Nuisance
Species Conference in New Orleans in January 1997;
prevention session at the May 1997 Illinois Lake Management
Association Annual Conference; prevention session at the
April 1997 Indiana Lake Management Conference; a teaching
tool for educators, "Zebra Mussel Mania Traveling Trunk"
that may be borrowed at several locations; a
teleconference, "Zebra Mussels: Lessons learned in the
Great Lakes," is scheduled for September 10, 1997
Other nonindigenous species including ruffe and
round gobies have the potential for economic and ecosystem
threats to the southern Lake Michigan region. Charlebois
said, "Several nonindigenous species that have been
introduced into Lake Michigan have had significant effects
on native species. The potential for further introductions
and the possible harm associated with them must be
recognized. Continued efforts of all citizens
are extremely important to reduce further spread."
For more information, contact Illinois-Indiana Sea
Grant nonindigenous specialist Pat Charlebois, (847)
872-0140.
