Zebra mussels found in Oologah Lake
ODWC

Not all out-of-town visitors to Oklahoma are welcome.

Fisheries biologists have recently discovered zebra mussels in Oologah
Lake in northeast Oklahoma. According to Barry Bolton, assistant
fisheries chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the
size of the colonies found indicates the mussels were likely introduced
into Oologah Lake last year.

These small, rapidly-growing, non-native mussels can cluster together in
colonies of hundreds of thousands per square meter. They can alter native
ecological systems and disrupt water withdrawal operations by clogging
intake pipes.

Zebra mussels also affect recreation activities, Bolton added, the
mussels could cause engines to overheat by accumulating in water intakes
of inboard and outboard boat motors. Boats should not be left in infested
water for extended periods of time. The mussels attach quickly to boat
hulls and can affect boat-handling capability, reduce fuel efficiency, and
slow speed.

“Unfortunately, there is no feasible means to eradicate zebra mussels
from a lake once they have become established,” Bolton said. “However, we
can take precautions to help prevent the spread of zebra mussels. Probably
the most important thing you can do is to wash your boat and flush boat
motors with clean water every time you travel to a different lake.”

Most zebra mussels are thumbnail size, but can grow up to two inches
long. They are usually found in water down to 30 feet deep. They have an
elongated, "D"-shaped, thin shell with a black and white stripes. Unlike
native mussels that burrow in sand and gravel, zebra mussels spend their
adult lives attached to objects such as rocks, metal, wood, plastic,
concrete, aquatic plants, and even the shells of native mussels and
crayfish.

For more information about zebra mussels or to see a picture of one, log
on to the Department’s Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com/mussel.htm.
If you think you may have found a zebra mussel, contact one of the
following offices: Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s
northeast region office at (918) 683-1031 Corps of Engineers Tulsa
District Office at (918) 669-7411.