Central Texas Zebra Mussel forums scheduled for Jan. 18-19

Media Contact: TPWD News Business Hours, 512-389-8030

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Three forms will be held Jan. 18 and 19 in Kingsland and Marble Falls and Burnet to address the threat of invasive mussels in the Highland Lakes. The purpose of these forums is to raise awareness of potential consequences associated with zebra and quagga mussels in the Colorado River system.

Speakers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Lower Colorado River Authority, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the Inks Lake Dam National Fish Hatchery will present at the forums.

“Zebra mussels are one of the most prolific and destructive invasive species found in the US,” said Brian Van Zee, TPWD Inland Fisheries Regional Director.

“They damage aquatic ecosystems, plug water intake systems used for industrial and municipal purposes and even impact water based recreation by fouling boat hulls, damaging boat engines and making beaches unusable. Each year millions of dollars are spent trying to monitor, control and manage zebra mussel infestations and once they become established they are nearly impossible to eradicate.”

The forum stresses that the only way to combat the spread of these invasive mussel species is prevention through education and outreach.

The schedule is as follows:

  • Wednesday, January 18, 1:30-4:00 — Herman Brown Free Library in Burnet
  • Wednesday, January 18, 5:30-8:00 — Marble Falls Public Library
  • Thursday, January 19, 9:30-Noon — Kingsland Branch Library 

For more information on zebra and guagga mussels and other invasive species in Texas visit http://www.texasinvasives.org. For a complete agenda and links to detailed location information, visit the Texas Invasives events calendar at http://texasinvasives.org/pages/spotlight.php.