If you normally boat in an area where zebra mussels have been identified, and especially if you plan on trailering your boat to an inland lake, the following precautions will help prevent the spread of this exotic mollusk. Thoroughly clean and scrape the hull of your boat. An alternative is to leave the boat out of the water for 10 days or more, as zebra mussels cannot live long without water. All live wells, bilge areas, etc. should be drained and dried. Chlorine bleach added at the rate of one part bleach to 10 parts water is recommended for areas where trapped water remains.
Chlorine bleach is corrosive to electronics.
Approved anti-foulants should be applied to boat hulls to discourage zebra mussels from attaching. Because zebra mussels are present year round in Lake Erie, the entire boating season on the lake presents a concern to boaters. The length of time your boat is in the lake does not make a difference since zebra mussels can settle on boat hulls and enter boat intake systems within a matter of minutes.