Does anyone use their boat in a lake that has zebra muscles?

[Waterski-Rebel]

I have thought about taking a trip to Pueblo Resevoir this summer. The problem is, They thought they found some baby zebra muscles in there during the summer of 2008, but haven't been able to find any since. They do have a decontamination station setup that I could use before or after using the lake, I'm just concerned about them getting into my cold water intake, or someplace else.

So, I was wondering who out there boats in lakes that have these muscles, and if you do how do you clean your boat? Do you worry about your motor?

I have a feeling I'll chicken out and not go, but wanted to see what others were doing first.

[TeamAllen]

I go to Lake Mead multiple times, every year, without any issues. There are many others that boat and live there. The thought is really that the motor is to hot for any larvae to live through. As a precaution you could remove the plugs form the cooling system to dry the motor out. You will see how hot the water gets. Drain your bilge.

I have gone through the decontamination station at Lake Powell. They inspected the boat and since I had been to a contaminated lake flushed the engine with a fake-a-lake.

I don't have any ballast tanks. I know those are a big issue. They could easily be transported in there. I'm not sure what they do about that.

[Waterski-Rebel]

I agree that the motor is too hot for them to live in, but what about the cold water intake? If I were to have some in there, could they live till I got to my normal lake?

Does the water intake drain 100% when the boat is out of the water?

Do I risk hurting my motor by sucking them up and through? They'd have to be babies, but I could see little shells damaging the motor as they went through it.

[dingleberry]

Usually the mussels are attached to something like a rock, not just floating around. So I would think that the risk of sucking them through the motor and damaging it would be less than the risk of sucking up pebbles and sand from the bottom.

[River Runner]

"Zebra mussels are unique in that they can be transported during any stage of their life cycle. The mollusks reproduce after their first year of life. Spawning occurs anytime the water temperature is above 20°C (68°F). A single zebra mussel can lay millions of eggs that develop into free floating planktonic larva known as veligers. Veligers can not be seen by the unaided eye and drift throughout the water column. Boaters can accidentally transport zebra mussels by contamination of bilges with veligers or adult zebras attached to the hull. Adult zebra mussels can survive several days out of the water. Researchers documented the crossing of trailered boats into California infested with the mollusks."

Its unlikely you will ever get an adult zebra mussel into your intake if you dont leave your boat in the water for extended periods. The major concern is picking up the larvae and transporting to another body of water unknowingly.

[Timmy!]

Just flush your boat when you get home, don't use your ballast while you are there and I think you will be fine. Pueblo is a nice lake, the camping just SUCKS! Well, it doesn't suck if you like camping in the desert and rattlesnakes but otherwise the lake itself is pretty nice.

[whitlock87]

Most of the lakes on the west coast have them.
We go to Mojave, Paris, Castaic, and pudding stone. They all ask where you where last and if they find any signs of wetness they won’t let you in. (Ok Mojave really does not check, as they are already over ran with these pest). From the time we leave Mojave to the time we take it back out is about 10 days. My understanding is that with the AZ temps in the summer (100+) they will not survive being out of the water that long.

[Domsz06]

I have used my boat in mead once, no issues. G-money uses his boat in all the lakes that have them, and he hasn't had any issues, he also uses ballast. Talltige uses his boats in the water. IMO they are much more a Scare tactic then anything else. (I mean the lakes are packed, and everyone uses a boat so are they really that big of an issue to boats?)

[KonaKing]

I go to Powell and the do inspections and flush your boat with super heated water. My motor is a closed system. The raw water side of it and the bilge was flushed but what really hung them up was the ballast system. The just let me go. If you drain everything you wont have a problem.

[Jeffe]

My boat is constantly in use on the Colorado river between Lake Mohave Lake Havasu. We keep our boat in the water for up to 3-4 days at a time & never have any issues.

However, the water on the river is much colder & they most likely do not survive.

[Waterski-Rebel]

Thanks guys!!

I called the lake today, and they said they spray down the boat with hot water, and also can run it through your motor if you like. I think with those safety precautions, I should be OK.