Trailered boats are to blame for spreading the mussels throughout the fresh water lakes and rivers in the Great Lakes basin once they were introduced there (believed around 1988).

Cooling water left in an engine cooling system when a boat is not in use does not seem to support their growth. They do not attach themselves to hulls protected with anti fouling paint. Colonies of mussels can clog water intakes on boats in use however.

They've taken over clam beds and have crowded out other mussels. Clams have virtually disappeared from western Lake Erie! Colonies of zebra mussels in Lake Erie have reached astounding densities of 70,000 per square meter according to estimates. Lake Erie is estimated to be filtered completely each week. Because of this, zebra mussels have high concentrations of toxins -- which are passed on to any waterfowl that feed on them. Water clarity has increased sixfold and light reaching the bottom has caused increases in bottom plants.

Zebra mussels clog water intake pipes and turn docks and pilings into surfaces that can tear your skin off. Clogged water supply pipes have cost many millions of dollars to repair.

They filter algae from the water, turning it clear. Scuba diving in the Great Lakes area has become a growing sport because you can now see in the water. Unfortunately, the absence of microscopic aquatic plant and animal life will cause many species to disappear as the ecosystem changes radically.

Control

Hot water will kill zebra mussels (only useful for a very small bilge!). Chlorine will also kill them, but is very toxic to marine life. Potassium, bromine, ozone and ultraviolet light are less toxic alternatives are difficult to apply under water. A novel experiment was reported at the Sixth International Zebra Mussel and other Aquatic Nuisance Species Conference in March 1996,

Researchers at Purdue University have discovered that radio waves will kill zebra mussels. Their experiments exposed them to low-energy radio waves in fish tanks, which killed the zebra mussels in 40 days. It appeared the radio frequency caused them to lose the calcium they need to survive. Other organisms in the tanks, such as other freshwater mussels and crabs were significantly less harmed and fish were not harmed at all. This is not very practical for a lake but could be used around water intakes.

"...included "Penaten" cream, a product normally used by parents of newborns. This product, which has a significant zinc component, not only reduced mussel settlement but also prevented diaper rash on all of the boats tested! "

Links to other Sites

http://www.100thmeridian.org is a cooperative effort between state, provincial, and federal agencies to prevent the westward spread of zebra mussels and other aquatic nuisance species in North America.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

SchoolNet -- The students of Confederation High School in Nepean, Ontario, became experts in the zebra mussel field through the SchoolNet-Canadian Environmental Solutions project.

Gulf of Maine Aquarium has a sketch and general information. Note the links on this page are dead.

Protecting residential water supply systems from Zebra Mussels taken from a New York Sea Grant fact sheet called "Control of Zebra Mussels in Residential Water Systems".

Zebra Mussels page from Sea Grant Great Lakes Network. THey provide educational materials about zebra mussels and other introduced species.

Zebra Mussel Information from FOCA (Federation of Ontario Cottagers Associations)
Picture of Ontario zebra mussel distribution October 1995.

Picture of zebra mussel covering a clam held in a hand is from a page on zebra mussels (more photos). Earthwave is a nonprofit organization.

Asian Carp invasion: Governments take emergency action to stop the this invasive fish from reaching the Great Lakes region after its rapid spread up the Mississippi River.

Other nuissancesOther nuisance species in the Great Lakes