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Help stop Zebra Mussels from
coming to South Carolina
What are Zebra Mussels?
Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are tiny black and white-striped
shellfish native to Eurasia. They came to North America in the late 1980's and were
discovered in Lake St. Clair, Michigan. These freshwater bivalves came to America as
hitchhikers in the ballast water of tankers from Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
Why the concern?
Lacking their native enemies in America, zebra mussels adapt and reproduce
quickly in waterbodies they infest. They have spread quickly throughout the Great Lakes
and most of the Midwestern States, all the way to New Orleans, Louisiana and into the
Tennessee River. Along the way they have caused considerable damage to public utilities
and other water users. Multiplying quickly, the zebra mussel has plugged water intakes of
power companies, golf courses, municipal water providers, and boat engines. By feeding
heavily on plankton, it has also significantly altered ecosytems, the entire impact of
which is not fully known. Total damage to the Great Lakes is estimated in the billions of
dollars.
What can we do?
We can help slow the spread of zebra mussels to South Carolina by taking several
precautions:
- Draining all the water from boats, bait buckets, or any other containers where the zebra
mussels can live. Leftover bait should not be taken from infested waters to uninfested
waters.
- Inspecting boats and trailers at the ramp whenever we use our boats in the lakes of
other states.
- Drying boats and trailers for at least three days after using them in infested waters or
waters of other states.
- Using antifouling paints to prevent zebra mussels from attaching themselves to the hull
of boats.
Most importantly, S.C. residents should report any sighting of
what might be zebra mussels to their County Extension Office or to the
South Carolina Sea Grant Office at (843) 727-2078.
Check out the SC Sea Grant Home Page for
more information.
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