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 * What Industry Is Doing To Stop the Spread?**

Once the zebra mussels have established themselves they are virtually impossible to get rid of with the technology we have currently available. Most commercial water users use mechanical scrapers, manual removal, filters, or chlorine to keep the mussels off of their water pipes and intakes. The scrapping is most effective but is time consuming and costly. Filters constantly need replacing and chlorine works but at the cost of the water and the watershed. Many other plants install equipment to preoxidize water at the point of intake. Physical barriers and chemical coatings are used to prevent zebra mussels from attaching to structures. The negative part here is that many of these coatings, zinc and copper based, are also toxic to other organisms in the ecosystem. There is no single, ideal solution for all affected facilities.

Molluscicides, biological predators (invasive and native), electric current have also been tried. The first problem is that zebra mussels are so tolerant that any of these harmful ideas will more than likely kill everything in the area before they even affect the mussels. A second problem is that the native species that feed on zebra mussels cannot keep up and by adding another invasive species the problem will only worsen. Many other different variables are now being tried to slow or prevent the spread of these mussels though. The most ecologically friendly options seem to be vibrations, filters and screens on water pipes and intakes, changes in ultraviolet light, and drastic temperature changes by either freezing or using hot water above 32 degrees Celsius. (4)



 Most zebra mussels are spread on accident by boaters and sport fisherman. An important role you can play then is to be aware of the problem and be cautious of spreading these "predators" while you're on the water. Adult mussels attach to any hard surface. This includes boat hulls, trailers, buoys, aquatic vegetation, and even other mollusks. Veligers, the immature stage of the zebra mussel, may be carried in live wells, bilge water, or bait buckets. To prevent the spread of these species, remove all visible plants, fish, animals and mud from your boats, jet skis, and trailers. Drain all water from the boat, trailer, and all other fishing and boating equipment before leaving that body of water. Flush out the cooling systems to get rid of veligers that may be traveling in there. Use a power washer to clean your boat and trailer before traveling to a new water body or you may hand washed your equipment with hot water when exited from the water. Alternately, allow the boat, trailer and other gear to thoroughly dry for a minimum of three days.
 * What Can You Do To Stop the Spread? **

Monitoring your body of water may be one of the most effective ways to help. Monitoring may be the most effective way to prevent the invasion / spread of zebra mussels. It is important to monitor zebra mussels for a number of reasons: 1. help detect them before they become established, 2. find present populations to help prevent their spread, and 3. develop control and monitoring plans for bodies of water that already have mussels. (3)

If you spot an invader, record the date and exact location where you found the mussel. Take the mussel with you, if possible, and store it in rubbing alcohol to help scientists identify it. In Pennsylvania, contact Pennsylvania Sea Grant at 215-806-0894. Help with this monitoring is needed to find new populations of mussels and alert the people in charge of that particular body of water so they can try and prevent the total invasion of the zebra mussel. In Erie, if you have seen a new population of mussels or if you would just like to volunteer, please contact invasivespecies@psu.edu or call Sarah Whitney at 610-304-8753.

VIDEO CLIP: [|Possible Solutions for Controlling Invasive Species]

VIDEO CLIP: [|Controlling Invasive Species]  LINK TO VIDEO CLIP ON MONITORING ZEBRA MUSSELS: http://[|seagrant.psu.edu/zm/monitor/ZebraMusselMonitoringMovie.mp4]