Zebra mussels threaten Missouri waterways

By Chris Patch

Herald-Tribune

An exotic pest has begun to make itself at home in Missouri without the notice of many boaters who are the main line of defense between Missouri waterways and infestation.

The pests are small mollusks called zebra mussels, which are not native to Missouri. The mussels are approximately a half inch wide and attach themselves to solid objects in water where they feed and reproduce at alarming rates.

Zebra mussels cause millions of dollars of damage every year by clogging water intake systems in boats and power plants, as well as threatening existing aquatic life. If kept unchecked they could begin to affect Missouri's fishing industry, as they feed on similar diets to Missouri's sport fish.

"They're an invasive species," Missouri conservation agent Shawn Pennington said. "They've started showing up in a few of our bodies of water here in Missouri and they spread very rapidly. The main way that these Zebra Muscles spread around body of water to body of water is boat traffic."

Zebra mussels were first noticed in Missouri waters in 1999 in the Meramec River, but have since spread to the Lake of the Ozarks and other lakes. Boaters can help to stop the spread of these pests by performing some relatively easy procedures after exiting a body of water.

"Just do a quick inspection, make sure your boat trailer doesn't have any of them attached to the bunks on the boat trailer," Pennington said. "Check around the water line and below the water line on your boat, especially around the lower unit on the motor. Through the livewell and fuselage systems of your boat, make sure you flush those out."

The mussels rely on water to survive. Removing standing water from a boat or leaving it in hot or freezing temperatures will probably eliminate a zebra mussel colony.

"It just takes a few extra minutes once you load your boat to do that and that's really all it takes to keep from spreading them," Pennington said.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is concerned the lack of public knowledge of these pests may lead to further infestations and affect the state's billion-dollar fishing industry. Tom Banek, the department's invasive species coordinator, wants to get the word out.

"Until people experience the detrimental effects that zebra mussels can have, they might not be that concerned about them," he said. "But anyone who is concerned about Missouri's economy has reason to be concerned about zebra mussels."