| It is becoming more common to find that either one | | | | mussel shell, organic pollutants concentrate to levels |
| is unable to take one's boat into a recreational area, | | | | greater than three hundred thousand times more |
| or that in order to do so, one has to have it sprayed | | | | than is found in the environment naturally. That is a |
| so that it is decontaminated. | | | | massive increase. These pollutants or toxins exist in |
| The reason is the cause for concern over the spread | | | | waste passing out of the mussel shell. The toxins are |
| of the quagga mussel. This mussel was identified as a | | | | then passed up the food chain, eventually becoming |
| separate species when it was found in a sample | | | | evident in damage to both flora and fauna. |
| taken to study zebra mussels. Neither variety is | | | | The second prong is as a result of the nature of |
| indigenous to North America. | | | | their colonization. The zebra mussel's keel shape |
| The zebra mussel was first identified in the Bug | | | | allows it to cement itself to any flat surface, but it |
| River, one of the tributaries of the Dneiper River on | | | | was not found at depths lower than 130m. (The |
| the Ukraine in 1890. The building of canals in the | | | | quagga mussel is rounded in shape). Because their |
| region saw it spreading through Russia and into | | | | colonies cling to hard surfaces and cement |
| Europe. It is concluded then that it arrived in the USA | | | | themselves there, they end up obstructing |
| in the early 1980's via trans-Atlantic shipping vessels | | | | human-built structures. Water intake pipes for |
| whose cargo was either mussels for export or | | | | industry are particularly vulnerable. As these get |
| elements of the mussel life cycle like it's veliger | | | | clogged up with mussels, their function is impaired to |
| (planktonic larva) ejected into North American waters | | | | the detriment of both communities and industry. The |
| from the ships' ballast. | | | | cost of repair to both runs into millions of dollars. |
| The mussels are now found in all the Great Lakes | | | | Industries began building their intake pipes at depths |
| and the quagga has been found in small pockets as | | | | lower than 130m, but unfortunately, this has not |
| far south as Arizona. Iowa, Nevada, Kentucky, | | | | impacted on the quagga mussel. They cling |
| Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania | | | | tenaciously even at depths lower than 130m. |
| have all been affected in a small measure. | | | | (Remember, this refers to regions around the Great |
| A contributing fact to its spread has been boating | | | | Lakes and St. Lawrence River.) |
| activities. (Thus the decontamination process). Where | | | | Quagga mussels adapt to any environmental |
| boats and/or fishing activities have taken place in one | | | | condition, being able to cling to both hard and soft |
| water body and the equipment used there has then | | | | structures. It is this adaptability that causes strong |
| been moved to another water body locality, the | | | | concern. |
| mussels get the chance to spread. Of course, this | | | | Many means of control have been tried. Aquatic life, |
| goes across county borders too and is inadvertent, | | | | such as diving ducks, fish and crayfish prey on these |
| quite unbeknown to the people involved. The mussel | | | | mussels but this has not significantly reduced their |
| itself or its veligar has been transported and is able | | | | number. Chemical treatment has been effective but |
| to take up residence elsewhere. | | | | this is not environmentally friendly. A breakthrough |
| The reason why they are considered a threat is on a | | | | may have occurred in the use of a common soil |
| two-pronged front. | | | | bacteria found everywhere and which is harmless to |
| First, they destroy their environment, impacting on | | | | humans. |
| other underwater creatures. They feed by passing | | | | It is not advisable for humans to eat them because |
| water through their shells. When doing this they | | | | of the high levels of toxicity found within them. A |
| remove phytoplankton (an organism which produces | | | | point by which to recognize them is that they are |
| carbohydrates, fats and proteins using light) from the | | | | striped. The 'quagga' from which their name is |
| water (as do zebra mussels). Doing this decreases | | | | derived, is a distant relative to the zebra. |
| the food source for zooplankton, (those plankton | | | | As yet, the impact on boating south of the Great |
| which use organic carbon to grow) thereby altering | | | | Lakes is fairly low. However you may find that only |
| the food chain. | | | | rental boats and rental equipment already on the lake |
| The food chain is altered because the water gets | | | | is available to you. If not, take care to jet-wash, if |
| less murky allowing the light to penetrate further. | | | | possible, your boat down. Disinfect it. (Permanganate |
| Water plants grow more abundantly, and this | | | | of potash works well but it is not regarded as being |
| changes the underwater environment. Inside the | | | | truly environmentally friendly.) Keep the quagga out. |