New Guide for Boaters

From October 11, 1991 (update #11)

KEMPTVILLE, Ont. - An excellent "Zebra Mussels Boater's Guide" has been produced by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Among its key recommendations for boaters:

* Hot water above 104 degrees F ( 40 degrees C) is an effective, environmentally "friendly" way of killing mussel veligers and adults. * Run your boat at high speed 10-15 minutes at least twice a week in warm weather and once a week in cold weather. * Upon removing your boat from infested waters, inspect the bottom, especially underwater fittings, trim tabs and lower units. Rub your hand over the hull. If it feels grainy, there are probably young zebra mussels attached. Remove visible mussels with a paint scraper or use high-pressure (250 psi) water. Wash the outside of the hull with hot water. * A mild chlorine solution of one tablespoon (15 ml) of bleach per gallon (4.5 L) is effective for killing veligers. Chlorine solutions are not recommended for killing adult mussels, however. * Thoroughly drain the boat, its propulsion systems, bilges, bait well, coolers, anchor locker and other places where water may collect. Flush everything with hot tap water. * If the weather is hot and dry, leave your boat out of the water in a sunny location for at least three days. * Outboards should be tipped up and out of the water when not in use so water can drain from the cooling passages. Inspect cooling-water inlets and small spaces around the propeller. At lay-up, remove intake screens and examine internal passages. * Routinely remove screens and inspect intakes. Regularly run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature. On inboards, disassemble between seacock and engine, inspect and clean at the end of the season. Replace the pump's impeller if shell fragments have entered the system. * Monitor temperature gauges carefully for unusual increases in temperature.

For copies of the guide, contact the OMNR Zebra Mussel Coordination Office, Postal Bag 2002, Kemptville, Ont., K0G 1J0, Canada, or phone (613) 258-8205.

ID: 19911011-6.

The Zebra Mussel Update was a 4- to 8-page quarterly national newsletter published by the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute from May 1990 through May 1997. The ZMU documented the spread of the zebra mussel -- an exotic nuisance mussel -- through North America's freshwater environments, especially the Great Lakes, and on efforts to control it.