They found a zebra mussel in Lake Texoma!

I remember, as a kid, going down to Lake Texoma when the lake level was low and seeing all the mussels lining the ground where the water receded. So there have always been freshwater mussels in that lake, but the threat of the Zebra mussel is new.

In April, a zebra mussel was found on a boathouse communication line. This was the first instance of this species being found there.

Zebra mussels arrived here in the US from Asia in 1988. They’ve spread their way across waterways in 24 states.

The problem starts when a boat owner goes from an infected lake to a clear one. The mussels attach themselves to a boat and can live for several days out of water.

You can help solve this issue.

When you leave a body of water, take your boat to a car wash and completely wash it off. Then let it completely dry before hauling to another body of water.

Zebra mussels are a little over half an inch long and typically are striped, hence the name. If you locate one you may contact authorities in Texas at 1-800-792-4263 or 405-521-3721 in Oklahoma.