| About the Zebra Mussel | |||
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Zebra
Mussels (Dreissena
Polymorpha) Zebra Mussels are native to the Caspian, Black and Aral Sea in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. They are small, freshwater bi-valve mollusks that are triangular in shape with an obvious ridge between the side and bottom. The zebra mussel gets its name from the black (or dark brown) and white striped markings that appear on its shell. Zebra mussels can cause a variety of adverse impacts including the clogging of intake pipes of municipal drinking water plants and private homes. Zebra Mussels were discovered in Lake George’s Southern Basin in December 1999. Many lakes surrounding Lake George, most notably Lake Champlain, have been inundated by the newcomers since the early 90s. Whether or not the Zebra Mussel population will balloon in Lake George as it has in other ecosystems is still uncertain. However, what is for sure is that their impact can be limited if preventative measures are taken in the early stages. |
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Monitoring for Veligers and Juvenile Zebra Mussels: DFWI monitors 12 locations for the presence/absence of zebra mussel veligers, biweekly through the spawning season, when water temperature is above 12°C. Monitoring occurs at sites that are frequented by boating and fishing traffic, as well as at some deep water sites.
Permanent Sites: Permanent underwater buoys have been
placed
at 12 locations,
a cross section of site types. Repeated surveys of these sites provide
data on mollusk
movement, survival and population dynamics. A benthic survey has been conducted by
DFWI
divers at 67
sites, to develop baseline data on Lake George’s mollusk population, as well as to search for zebra mussels.
The sites are close to marinas, at the mouths of tributaries that
deliver high
calcium concentrations to Lake George and at locations with a variety
of bottom
types and depths. In Hearts Bay and Flat Rock Bay, prime
mollusk habitats, permanent
underwater monitoring experiments have been set up in 30 feet of water.
Mollusks
are collected each August; identified, measured, tagged and returned to
the
same location. This long term experiment will shed light on mollusk
growth and
survival in Lake George. |
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