Well, Lake Powell, it was fun while it lasted

[bruceb58]

Re: Well, Lake Powell, it was fun while it lasted

Interesting that it clears the water. Tahoe has some non native clams they are trying to get rid of because their waste increases algae growth.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Well, Lake Powell, it was fun while it lasted

Interesting that it clears the water. Tahoe has some non native clams they are trying to get rid of because their waste increases algae growth.

Water is always crystal clear where there are zebra mussels. They are a filter feeder

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Well, Lake Powell, it was fun while it lasted

This claims that they cause increased weed growth. Honestly that is not what I've seen on Minnetonka where the infestations are
Invasive Invertebrates | USGS Great Lakes Science Center

Zebra mussels affect natural ecosystems both directly and indirectly. The greatest direct impact relates to the mussel’s feeding behavior. Zebra mussels are filter feeders and process up to 1 gallon of water per day/mussel. During this process, every particle in the water column is removed and either eaten by the mussels or wrapped in mucus and spit out. This feeding ability, in combination with high population densities, rapidly clears the water of even the largest lakes. Since zebra mussels became established in Lake Erie, water clarity has increased from 6 inches to 30 feet in some areas. Unfortunately, the material removed from the water consists of other live animals and algae that supply food for larval fish and other invertebrates. In response to this changing food supply, populations of some animals have begun to decline.

As the lakes clear, the brighter light levels cause aquatic plants to increase in number and size. This increased plant growth can be beneficial to some fish such as northern pike and to yellow perch. However, the plants do cause problems for recreational boaters and swimming beaches, and can increase taste-and-odor problems in drinking water supplies, and can block water-intake pipes during storm events.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Well, Lake Powell, it was fun while it lasted

Water is always crystal clear where there are zebra mussels. They are a filter feeder

Aren't clams also filter feeders?

 

[jcfitzgerald]

Re: Well, Lake Powell, it was fun while it lasted

I have read that Blue Catfish will feed heavily on the invasive mussels. Maybe Blue Catfish should be more widely stocked.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Well, Lake Powell, it was fun while it lasted

Aren't clams also filter feeders?

Yes, but I don't think they are a voracious an eater and when you get zebra mussels you get thousands and thousands of them. I understand that the bluegill like to snack on them.

 

[LilRedNeckGirl]

Re: Well, Lake Powell, it was fun while it lasted

I have read that Blue Catfish will feed heavily on the invasive mussels. Maybe Blue Catfish should be more widely stocked.

We fish the CHickahominy & James in Virginia. Blue Cats were sticked here back in the 70's i think. Now they dominate the river syatem. Good eating, weights common in the 2 to 40 pound range, with monsters coming in over 100 pounds. The issues are the sheer numbers. On a fair day, catches of 50 to 100 are normal. the spawn produces 'hundreds' of fry from each breeding fish. There are just so many of them. They turn from scavenger to predator as they grow, and somewhere in that 20 pound range, they become a non stop eating machine.
No proof yet, but shad & herring have been closed season now in rivers, which most suispect the blue cat @ eating the young. other native cats are rare to catch, blamed on the lack of food. @ blues eat everything in the water, all day long. Where most cats arwe nocturnal, blues bite/feed non stop.
Be carefull what you wish for when talking about introducing another non native to combat an invasive, the cure might be worse then the cause.....