The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission last month voted to make permanent emergency requirements for boaters to clean, dry and drain all watercraft before and after entering lakes and streams. The rules take effect Tuesday in 17 North Texas counties.

The "clean, dry and drain" rules apply to all public waters in Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Fannin, Grayson, Hood, Jack, Kaufman, Montague, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Stephens, Tarrant, Wise, and Young counties.

Zebra mussels were first confirmed in Texas in Lake Texoma in 2009. The pesky creatures that can clog pipes and damage boat motors have since spread to several North Texas lakes.

Online: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/



Read more: http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/24172896/new-zebra-mussel-rules-in-n-texas-start-tuesday#ixzz2n1OY5gky

I heard the same thing, I hope it works.

Wonder how this will effect catching shad on one lake and taking to another???

You can catch all the shad you want and take them somewhere else.you can't keep them live in water and move lake water from one lake to another with lake water in a tank. No water can be moved from lake to lake.

Only option is having treated tap water in the tank and hopes of a game warden that believes your story when he checks you.

I'm a big fan. From what I understand they are bad for pump stations.I don't think they impact the fishery. Maybe if they get bad enough they won't be able to pump water from Cedar Creek (a good fishing lake ) to Benbrook (just Benbrook). I feel it's time we take our lakes and resevoirs back to their primary function which is for our pleasure as sportsmen and women. To long have they been used as the water supply for the millions of people in north Texas.

Isn't the damage already done?

Tru dat! Just got an email from TP&W confirming dead bait can be transported as long as no water is involved. Catch yer shad and put em on ice. You live shad fisher folks better be catchin em on the lake where you be a fishin. No transport of water from one water source to another in the effected area.

I'm hoping this is just a clever troll.

I guess this means no more water will be let out of these lakes.

The lakes were built to provide hydroelectric power and water flow management to the surrounding cities. Their primary function is not to have good fishing lakes, that's a distant last on their priorities, and rightfully so. I feel your pain on the lakes being low, but the only solution is for us be more responsible with our water consumption.

Hate that boaters and fishermen are gettin the blame. Texoma is connected to hubbard, lavon and Lewisville and other bodies of water (I'm pretty sure) all the way to the gulf. Its called the trinity river. Theres nothing stopping these microscopic organisms from coming down the river, attached to fish and whatever [censored] floats this way. Ive read the new laws, I'll abide, but its inevitable.

We have had zebra mussels in Kansas water ways for decades. And the only thing they did impact was pump stations. Some species of fish actually eat them. It's not unusual to catch a channel or flattie with a belly full of them and they sound like a bag of change while flopping around. The only negative is the maintenance to said pumps is charged back to the consumers in way of your water bill.

Pretty sure that was sarcasm--Dave is no idiot-