Posted 10:24 pm Thursday, February 09, 2012
Study Shows Zebra Mussel Confined To Texoma
Despite recent test results showing zebra mussel DNA to be present in several North Texas reservoirs, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials remain hopeful that the invasive aquatic species is still confined to Lake Texoma.
Officials have been monitoring 14 North Texas reservoirs for zebra mussels, but have yet to have detected them on any of the lakes other than Texoma.
Officials have been monitoring 14 North Texas reservoirs for zebra mussels, but have yet to have detected them on any of the lakes other than Texoma.
Lakes involved in the study include Eagle Mountain, Lewisville, Lavon, Ray Hubbard, Ray Roberts, Arrowhead, Bridgeport, Tawakoni, Caddo, Wright Patman, Fork, Lake O’ the Pines, Caddo and Texoma.
“There are cases in the western U.S. where positive DNA results indicated the presence of zebra mussels, but those results could never be confirmed,” said Brian Van Zee, TPWD Inland Fisheries regional director. “In fact, Lakes Ray Hubbard and Lavon tested positive in the spring of 2011 for zebra mussel DNA, but the presence of zebra mussels could not be confirmed by microscopy or settlement samplers. The spring 2011 samples were taken right around the time that contaminated boats were found on both lakes, so that may be why they tested positive. Both boats were removed and decontaminated, and subsequent monitoring on these two lakes, by three different entities, has not confirmed the presence of zebra mussels.”
“There are cases in the western U.S. where positive DNA results indicated the presence of zebra mussels, but those results could never be confirmed,” said Brian Van Zee, TPWD Inland Fisheries regional director. “In fact, Lakes Ray Hubbard and Lavon tested positive in the spring of 2011 for zebra mussel DNA, but the presence of zebra mussels could not be confirmed by microscopy or settlement samplers. The spring 2011 samples were taken right around the time that contaminated boats were found on both lakes, so that may be why they tested positive. Both boats were removed and decontaminated, and subsequent monitoring on these two lakes, by three different entities, has not confirmed the presence of zebra mussels.”
The concern for zebra mussels has led TPWD to consider a regulation on Lake Texoma, the Red River above and below Texoma and on Lake Lavon to drain all water from their boat when leaving the lakes or river. There is a provision that would allow fishermen to launch at one spot and trailer their boats to another, such as for tournament trailering, but when leaving the lake for the day all compartments would need to be dry.
