Twenty or more years ago Russian cargo ships entering the Great Lakes ejected their bilge water into the lakes. Thus began the transfer of the foreign mussels and clams into a new home. Reproducing at a phenomenal rate they have virtually changed the hydrology of the Great Lakes and started the spread of an aquatic plague throughout the United States. Female Quagga mussels produce about a million eggs of which about 20,000 reach maturity.
The bulk of the spreading occurs from pleasure boats that go from lakes to rivers to steams where they collect the larva and transfer it to the boats next destination. The northeastern U.S. is now infected to the point where it is arguably impossible to irradiate the threat. The river systems of the east as well as feeder streams have thus been infected.
The West Coast was thought to be protected due to various nutrients in the water but, such was not the case. The Colorado River system has been infected to the extent that it seems impossible to repair.
The damage that organisms do is clog all pipes under the water. Cover the floor of the water ways up to a foot with clams and mussels and cover anything that is on the bottom and ruining boat motors along the way. The menace destroys all natural fauna and indigenous aquatic organisms.
On an approximate 3 year cycle, a great die off occurs which finds a one foot deep pile of sharp shells that are so sharp that shoes have to be worn to avoid cutting bare feet. Thus ruining beaches as a place for guests. Probably the most objectionable feature, however, is the accompanying stench. It is not difficult to understand what this situation does to summer vacation resorts.
California is just now recognizing the effects of this threat. Probably the most difficult challenge to overcome, is the publics lack of knowledge of the critical problem and its future implications on our California water systems and the environmental health of communities. These organisms have found their way into the sacred of sacreds, Lake Tahoe, as well as Donner Lake. In these newly identified areas it is not clear the extent of the contamination as divers must go down and physically inspect the bottom to determine the extent of the infestation. These inspections are planned for the fall months in The Lake Tahoe, Truckee area 2010.
Up until now there is no known eradication method that has proved effective. One method that seems to work on clams in Lake Tahoe has been to put a quarter acre rubber mat on the floor of the lake in infected areas for 2 or 3 months. This procedure deprives the clams of oxygen thus eliminating the organisms. This is a new process that is just now being tried. If it is successful, then the process will be expanded. However this process does not seem to work on mussels. Many scientist from UNR Nevada, UC Davis, Cal Berkley and other institutions are working on the problem.
The best protection so far is to inspect boats and trailers before launch in the various lakes in the Tahoe, Truckee area. 7 inspectors have been employed thus far for this purpose. Some lakes, mostly in Southern California, have been closed to boating altogether including some in the San Francisco Bay Area. Boats from out of state have been banned altogether from lakes.
The only effective method of assuring that boats and equipment are free of the mussels and clams is to wash everything with 140 degree water after use.
More information can be gotten by contacting two newly formed organizations dedicated to controlling these pests in our mountain lakes and streams. They are, ZAP THE ZEBERA 1-877-786-7267 and 1-866-440-9530 and, http://www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/quaggamussel ( State Department of Fish and Game)
Don Schaller
Broker Owner
Schaller Family Realtors
Dickson Realty Truckee
alltruckeehomes.com