from the USCG:
"California Boater Alert!
"Please clean all boats and trailers from Lake Mead ! Zebra mussels have been confirmed by Wen Baldwin, Lake Mead Boat Owner's Association at Lake Mead on January 6th, 2007. This is the first population of zebra mussels established west of the Rocky Mountains , which is over 1000 miles away from any other confirmed population. The zebra mussel is a fresh water mussel that has already invaded the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basin causing billions of dollars of damage to power plants, public water facilities, and boaters. If the zebra mussel gets into California , it will have significant impacts on the water transport facilities, boating, and the environment.
Zebra Mussels can spread on boat hulls, in water (as microscopic larvae), and on aquatic plants.
"Zebra Mussels are bad news for boaters. They can:
"1) Ruin your engine by blocking the cooling system - causing overheating.
"2) Increase drag on the bottom of your boat, reducing speed and wasting fuel.
"3) Jam steering equipment on boats.
"4) Require scraping and repainting of boat bottoms.
"Before Launching... Before Leaving:
"1) Remove aquatic plants from boat, motor and trailer.
"2) Drain lake or river water from your equipment including the motor, bilges, live wells, bait buckets, and coolers.
"3) Dispose of unwanted live bait on shore or in trash.
"4) Rinse boat and equipment with high pressure or hot water, especially if moored for more than a day, or Dry everything for at least 5 days.
"To learn how to clean your boat to stop the spread of zebra mussels please read the following flyer:
http://100thmeridian.org/Documents/2004zapthezebra.pdf
"For more information about the zebra mussel please visit the following web sites:
http://100thmeridia n.org/
http://www.protecty ourwaters. net/
"California resource managers are currently working to increase boat inspections at agricultural inspection stations and to increase monitoring for zebra mussels at fresh water locations.
"Please help stop the spread of Zebra Mussels and other invasive species by checking and cleaning your boat and trailer!"
"California Boater Alert!
"Please clean all boats and trailers from Lake Mead ! Zebra mussels have been confirmed by Wen Baldwin, Lake Mead Boat Owner's Association at Lake Mead on January 6th, 2007. This is the first population of zebra mussels established west of the Rocky Mountains , which is over 1000 miles away from any other confirmed population. The zebra mussel is a fresh water mussel that has already invaded the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basin causing billions of dollars of damage to power plants, public water facilities, and boaters. If the zebra mussel gets into California , it will have significant impacts on the water transport facilities, boating, and the environment.
Zebra Mussels can spread on boat hulls, in water (as microscopic larvae), and on aquatic plants.
"Zebra Mussels are bad news for boaters. They can:
"1) Ruin your engine by blocking the cooling system - causing overheating.
"2) Increase drag on the bottom of your boat, reducing speed and wasting fuel.
"3) Jam steering equipment on boats.
"4) Require scraping and repainting of boat bottoms.
"Before Launching... Before Leaving:
"1) Remove aquatic plants from boat, motor and trailer.
"2) Drain lake or river water from your equipment including the motor, bilges, live wells, bait buckets, and coolers.
"3) Dispose of unwanted live bait on shore or in trash.
"4) Rinse boat and equipment with high pressure or hot water, especially if moored for more than a day, or Dry everything for at least 5 days.
"To learn how to clean your boat to stop the spread of zebra mussels please read the following flyer:
http://100thmeridian.org/Documents/2004zapthezebra.pdf
"For more information about the zebra mussel please visit the following web sites:
http://100thmeridia n.org/
http://www.protecty ourwaters. net/
"California resource managers are currently working to increase boat inspections at agricultural inspection stations and to increase monitoring for zebra mussels at fresh water locations.
"Please help stop the spread of Zebra Mussels and other invasive species by checking and cleaning your boat and trailer!"