Problems associated with zebra mussels include clogged water intake lines, unpleasant taste and odor of drinking water, and increased algal blooms. Damage can occur to boat engines if cooling systems become clogged. The tiny mollusks attach themselves to boats and fishing equipment, and their free-swimming young can live in standing water found in bait buckets and engine cooling systems, quickly spreading to infest other lakes. Zebra mussels were transported from Europe in ballast water of ships and were found in the Great Lakes in 1988. These particles are microscopic plants and animals, which form the base of the food chain.
Boaters can help slow the spread of zebra mussels by following a few simple steps.
Drain, on land, all water from the motor, livewell, bilge and transom wells. Empty bait buckets on land. Never release live bait into a waterway or transfer aquatic animals between waterways. Use tap with at least 104 degrees F or a high pressure sprayer. As an alternative, dry equipment for at least five days.