Zebra Mussels and Plankton

Zebra mussels have effects on the people who live in the area surrounding Lake Champlain and those who use it recreationally. These mussels clog the intake pipes at drinking water and other facilities that use lake water. The pipes create optimal living conditions for zebra mussels because of the constant water flow, which provides a continuous source of food and oxygen. When zebra mussels fill a pipe, they affect the quality of the water coming in and they require extra expenses for maintenance.

Zebra mussels also affect recreation in very direct ways. The mussels attach to boat hulls and can cause drag, in turn reducing fuel efficiency and potentially causing damage to the outside of the boat. They also attach to docks, buoys, pilings, and ladders, not to mention the historic shipwrecks on the bottom of the lake. The waste that zebra mussels excrete can accelerate the corrosion of these structures. Finally, the sharp shells that zebra mussels have create hazardous conditions on beaches for barefoot strollers, swimmers, and dead mussels create unpleasant odors.

The zebra mussels can also have indirect effects on other organisms living in the lake. Zebra mussels are filter feeders and strain large volumes of water in this process. The mussels eat large amounts of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and bacteria suspended in the water. Other fishes in the lake rely on these organisms as primary food sources as well, especially juvenile fishes. Because of zebra mussels, there is less food available for these young fish. In addition zebra mussels have attached to huge areas of the lake bottom, reducing the number of good spawning sites for specific species such as lake trout.

What can you do to help?

If you are a recreational boat user of Lake Champlain, always drain bilges and boat wells and wash them out with fresh water when you leave the lake. This can prevent the mussels from spreading to other lakes. Even a tiny amount of water can harbor the larvae of zebra mussels. Another way that you can eliminate these larvae is to allow the boat to dry in the sun for at least 5 days before entering another water body.

For further information on how to help visit: www.protectyourwaters.net