Memorial day weekend advice.....Attention Boaters: Don’t Be A Carrier!

[Crusader]

Got an email from the Texas Parks and Wildlife department this morning. I'm posting this in the North section because the article specifically speaks to the Lake Texoma and Lake Lavon areas.....

Some very good information below and worth taking a look at....especially since this weekend is Memorial day weekend and typically the kick off weekend to the summer boating season. Also....some boaters hit several different lakes during this weekend.....in 2008, 08, and 10 our goal was to hangout on three lakes in three days.... 



Attention boaters: You could be carrying an invader that can harm our lakes, foul your boat, hinder water recreation and even threaten our drinking water supply!

Zebra mussels are a very destructive invasive species that can easily spread from lake to lake on boats and trailers like yours. They start out as microscopic larvae known as “veligers” and adults grow to only 1½ inches, but what these small (and often invisible) invaders lack in size they make up for in the damage they do.  Zebra mussels have already been found in Lake Texoma, and  you have the power to stop them from spreading to other Texas lakes!

Don’t be a carrier – Stop zebra mussels from spreading to other bodies of water by cleaning your boat, motor, trailer and gear of all debris and draining it of all water.  Then dry it for at least a week before boating on another body of water.  If your boat is kept or stored on the water in a lake known to have zebra mussels, then it will need to be fully decontaminated before transporting or launching it on another body of water.

Not only will you be helping to save our precious lakes, you’ll also be following the law.  It is illegal to possess or transport invasive species in the state and as of May 17, 2012, boaters and anglers on Lake Texoma and Lake Lavon will need to remove all water from their watercraft before leaving for another body of water. This includes emptying all bait buckets, live wells, bilges, and any other receptacles, containers, or systems that could contain water.  Learn more about the new regulations on the TPWD website. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20120503a

Watch this short video on how to properly clean, drain and dry your boat, trailer and gear. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qgmPVASHHI&feature=youtu.be

Learn more about zebra mussels at www.TexasInvasives.org.

 

[blazeracer]

This story was just on Fox 4 live from Lake Lavon.

 

[Crusader]

Yep, looks like the Zebra Mussels have invaded lavon.....so that means folks visiting us need to drain their boats before leaving to another lake and also means that we, as frequent Lavon users, need to do the same.

 

[Devilman]

That stuff is gettin serious out on the west coast. Inspection stations at some lakes, you fail you don't launch. Even seen where boats have been quarantined some kind of way...

 

[Becket]

Wonder if there is something that can be sprayed on the Boat, and in the Bilge to help Kill the little SOB's that would not hurt the Boat? (paint, Ect...)

 

[Crusader]

140 F water kills them...along with bleach.

 

[KONA77]

kinda hard for me to believe the larvae would live in the engine with the temp the engine makes.....  but i know organisms can be resilient

 

[Knotty Girl]

kinda hard for me to believe the larvae would live in the engine with the temp the engine makes.....  but i know organisms can be resilient

So what you are saying Kona is you know organisms?  think.gif :smile20: :smile26: :smile23:

 

[scarabscs]

I think the largest concen is on the trailers / and in the lower units of inboard / outboard boats.  I hope that the TX boaters work to contain the Zebra Muscles, they are a horribly invasive species.

All it takes is a few Hillbilly Bubba Keith Stones that dont give a sh!t to contaminate the clean lakes.

 

[Becket]

140 F water kills them...along with bleach.

Right, but I'm thinkin I dont want white carpet, I was thinkin something like an insectiside of some sorts.
Possibly a under body carwash type thing treated with something to kill them as soon as you pull the boat out.
the Water jackets in the Engine and lower unit would take a little more work but you get the idea.

 

[72hondo]

I've never been thru the inspection but I have friends who have. It's not fun. Any water anywhere in the boat automatic fail, can't come back in 7 days. Lines get long, tempers flair. Though this was for quagg muscles.

 

[Devilman]

There you go, it was the quagga muscles I was thinking about. There was a couple threads on PB recently about it, one describing someone not allowed to launch cuz they had opened/unfinished bottles of drinking water in their boat.  :lipsrsealed:

 

[scarabscs]

They are both from the same genus, just different species.  Both are in the US and spread like crazy.  Quags are in the great lakes, and Zebras are spread out a little more around the US. 

 

[Captin Hazlewood]

Why no mention of Ray Hubbard? If Lavon has the mussels, I'm certain Hubbard will have them too. Didn't they release a bunch of water from Lavon a month or so ago? Where did it go? I betting it didn't evaporate, So let me get this straight... We cannot release any water from Texoma to a lake that supplies water to about 20 cities in N Texas, but it is ok to release water from the lake supplying water to 20 cities and is infested with Zebra mussels to Hubbard.... That's your Tax dollars hard at work. This is going to end up being nothing more than a reason for big brother to pull you over while pulling a boat.  think.gif crazy.gif

 

[Crusader]

Why no mention of Ray Hubbard? If Lavon has the mussels, I'm certain Hubbard will have them too. Didn't they release a bunch of water from Lavon a month or so ago? Where did it go? I betting it didn't evaporate, So let me get this straight... We cannot release any water from Texoma to a lake that supplies water to about 20 cities in N Texas, but it is ok to release water from the lake supplying water to 20 cities and is infested with Zebra mussels to Hubbard.... That's your Tax dollars hard at work. This is going to end up being nothing more than a reason for big brother to pull you over while pulling a boat.  think.gif crazy.gif

I hear ya George. This issue is that theres a state law drafted back a few decades ago that prohibits the transporting of invasive species from out of state lakes....i.e. Texoma into Texas lakes. That doesn't preclude tranferring invasive species intra-state though.....and they can do that all they want but for the laws purpose, Texoma is an Oklahoma lake.....

Weird lawyer stuff.

 

[Captin Hazlewood]

Why no mention of Ray Hubbard? If Lavon has the mussels, I'm certain Hubbard will have them too. Didn't they release a bunch of water from Lavon a month or so ago? Where did it go? I betting it didn't evaporate, So let me get this straight... We cannot release any water from Texoma to a lake that supplies water to about 20 cities in N Texas, but it is ok to release water from the lake supplying water to 20 cities and is infested with Zebra mussels to Hubbard.... That's your Tax dollars hard at work. This is going to end up being nothing more than a reason for big brother to pull you over while pulling a boat.  think.gif crazy.gif

I hear ya George. This issue is that theres a state law drafted back a few decades ago that prohibits the transporting of invasive species from out of state lakes....i.e. Texoma into Texas lakes. That doesn't preclude tranferring invasive species intra-state though.....and they can do that all they want but for the laws purpose, Texoma is an Oklahoma lake.....

Weird lawyer stuff.

The state line runs thru the middle of the lake, just south of the islands. TPW patrols Texoma lake as well. And are you saying if I leave Hubbard with my boat full of water, there is no chance it has any mussles in it since TPW has not identified it as being infested?

 

[Crusader]

I'm not saying that at all george....just stating what was explained to me as to why they aren't releasing texoma water into Lavon but are releasing water out of Lavon.

Yep, the state line does run through the middle of the lake and TPW does patrol the lake.....but since it borders Oklahoma....for water purposes it's considered out of state.

 

[Captin Hazlewood]

Like I said.... Your Tax Dollars Hard at Work.... regulations that have no merit other than to give Big Brother another reason to meddle in your life... remember the Democrats want you to depend on them....

 

[Crusader]

Lol..I hear ya man. I've already voted in the Texas primary...... plan on voting in November too.

 

[Sharkbit]

It's BS George, just like when they have water restrictions but have the damn dam open.