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Zebra mussels Richland Chambers
#12493573
11/06/17 01:42 AM
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Joined: Mar 2005
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Zebra Mussels Discovered in Richland Chambers Reservoir
AUSTIN — Invasive zebra mussels have been positively identified in Richland Chambers Reservoir, one of the state’s largest inland reservoirs.
TPWD fisheries biologists confirmed the presence of six adult zebra mussels in the reservoir Oct. 18 after receiving an identification report from a couple of young anglers fishing near the dam. The young anglers identified the zebra mussels based on a warning poster they had seen advising boaters to clean, drain and dry.
“At this time it appears to be a pretty low density of zebra mussels and all of the specimens were of similar size, so at this time we cannot say there is a reproducing population in Richland Chambers Reservoir,” said Brian Van Zee, Inland Fisheries Regional Director. “That is why the lake is classified as positive rather than infested, but we do plan to continue to monitor for reproduction.”
Richland Chambers Reservoir is a 44,000-acre impoundment controlled by the Tarrant Regional Water District, located less than 100 miles from Dallas, Waco and Tyler. It is the newest of several water bodies already found positive for zebra mussels in the Trinity River Basin, to include Lake Livingston, Lake Worth, Lavon Lake and Fishing Hole Lake.
The Trinity River Basin also includes several zebra mussel-infested water bodies – meaning they have established, reproducing populations – including Lake Bridgeport, Eagle Mountain Lake, Ray Roberts Lake and Lake Lewisville – and the rivers below these lakes (or portions thereof) are considered positive.
The rapidly reproducing zebra mussels, originally from Eurasia, can have serious economic, recreational and environmental impacts on Texas reservoirs and rivers. Zebra mussels can cover shoreline rocks and litter beaches with sharp shells, clog water intakes, damage or increase maintenance on hydroelectric and other facilities using raw surface water, and damage boats and motors left in infested waters.
Although biologists do not yet know the full extent of the zebra mussel population in Richland Chambers Reservoir, District Fisheries Biologist Richard Ott said boaters need to be diligent in cleaning, draining and drying their equipment every time they leave the water.
“The problem with zebra mussels is that the larvae are microscopic, and that’s what makes it so important that people go through the clean, drain and dry process,” Ott said. “You can’t know for sure if you are carrying zebra mussels, so you need to proceed with an abundance of caution any time you are boating on positive or infested lakes.”
In Texas, it is unlawful to possess or transport zebra mussels, dead or alive. Boaters are required to drain all water from their boat and onboard receptacles before leaving or approaching a body of fresh water in order to prevent the transfer of zebra mussels. Zebra mussel larvae are microscopic and both adults and larvae can survive for days in or on boats transported from a lake, especially during cooler fall months. The requirement to drain applies to all types and sizes of boats whether powered or not: personal watercraft, sailboats, kayaks/canoes or any other vessel used on public waters.
TPWD fisheries biologists will continue to work with the Tarrant Regional Water District to monitor for zebra mussel reproduction and establish signage to notify boaters of the new infestation at Richland Chambers Reservoir.
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Re: Zebra mussels Richland Chambers
[Re: SC-001]
#12493579
11/06/17 01:47 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,559
Jarrett Latta
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I figured they have been in there a long time at this point. Nobody cleans out their boat. I know those wake boat morons don't
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Re: Zebra mussels Richland Chambers
[Re: SC-001]
#12493597
11/06/17 01:53 AM
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Joined: Mar 2005
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I wouldn't doubt if they are in every lake within 100 miles of there, I'm surprised there hasn't been a positive ID on whitney yet, there already has been on the lakes above and below it.
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Re: Zebra mussels Richland Chambers
[Re: SC-001]
#12493621
11/06/17 02:03 AM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 23,580
SteezMacQueen
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Man.....first time on the lake was Saturday. Now it has zebra mussels? Must be me.
Eat. Sleep. Fish.
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Re: Zebra mussels Richland Chambers
[Re: SC-001]
#12493667
11/06/17 02:36 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,802
slim 285
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I wouldn't doubt if they are in every lake within 100 miles of there, I'm surprised there hasn't been a positive ID on whitney yet, there already has been on the lakes above and below it. Just wait , they will be there . They have not stopped those things since the first showed up north.
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Re: Zebra mussels Richland Chambers
[Re: SC-001]
#12493758
11/06/17 04:24 AM
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From what I can tell so far is they don't like lakes that fluctuate
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Re: Zebra mussels Richland Chambers
[Re: SC-001]
#12493832
11/06/17 12:43 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,957
Bob Landry
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We have them in Lake Travis.
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Re: Zebra mussels Richland Chambers
[Re: Bob Landry]
#12494024
11/06/17 03:41 PM
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Joined: May 2012
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bigbass94
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We have them in Lake Travis.
Canyon Lake too. It fluctuates. Not as much as Travis but it does nonetheless.
"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles." - Doug Larson
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Re: Zebra mussels Richland Chambers
[Re: SC-001]
#12494038
11/06/17 03:46 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
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bigcat85
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Well that is a no brainier. I am no genius but common sense tells us they have been there a while. If they are in Ray Roberts, water comes out of Ray Roberts and goes to the Trinity River. They pump water out of the Trinity in to Richland Chambers. Every body of water connected to the Red River or Trinity River will eventually have zebra mussels. Washing boats will help, but not much. You have birds, flooding, and many more factors. Zebra mussels will be in almost all lakes in Texas eventually.
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Re: Zebra mussels Richland Chambers
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#12494410
11/06/17 09:13 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,431
Fooshman
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From what I can tell so far is they don't like lakes that fluctuate Is Waco the exception? COE can't keep that lake a constant level to save their lives.
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Re: Zebra mussels Richland Chambers
[Re: SC-001]
#12494414
11/06/17 09:18 PM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 21,111
buda13
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They have taken hold in Bridgeport and it fluctuates as much if not more than any other lake in North Texas.
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Re: Zebra mussels Richland Chambers
[Re: Fooshman]
#12494543
11/06/17 11:37 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From what I can tell so far is they don't like lakes that fluctuate Is Waco the exception? COE can't keep that lake a constant level to save their lives. Except from a few floods it's been pretty constant level
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Re: Zebra mussels Richland Chambers
[Re: SC-001]
#12494544
11/06/17 11:39 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,479
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It just seems that when a lake gets real high it kills a lot of them off
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Re: Zebra mussels Richland Chambers
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#12494934
11/07/17 07:56 AM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,431
Fooshman
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From what I can tell so far is they don't like lakes that fluctuate Is Waco the exception? COE can't keep that lake a constant level to save their lives. Except from a few floods it's been pretty constant level Then they get trigger happy and let a bunch of water out because they were expecting "some significant rain" that never came.
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