MOss Ball Alert!
Zebra mussels have been found on moss balls or in their containers in 34 states, including Nebraska, and also found several locaitons in Canada. The moss balls with zebra mussels on them may have first begun coming into the US for distribution to retailers in December 2019 (still under investigation by US Fish & Wildlife Service).
Photos by: Idaho State Department of Agriculture Learn more about how to dispose of moss balls and this developing situation:
- US Fish & Widlife Service Updates
- Protocols for decontamination of aquariums
- Nebraska Game and Parks Press Release
If you find a zebra mussel report to Kristopher Stahr: npgc.ais@nebraska.gov , 402-471-7602 or here. Do not purchase moss balls as they could spread non-native species and pathogens. Never release moss balls or the water they were in, into a waterbody or down a drain. Contact Allison Zach, Nebraska Invasive Species Program, email: azach3@unl.edu with any questions.
PREVENT THE TRANSPORT OF AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES
Aquatic invasive species such as Eurasian watermilfoil, Asian clams, and zebra mussels can be spread between water bodies on boating and fishing equipment that has not been cleaned, drained and dried. Help to prevent the transport of nuisance species by following the guidelines below – clean, drain and dry:
- Access watercraft inspection guidance and activity log HERE
- Watercraft decontamination procedures can be found HERE
- Guidance for Private Lakes can be found HERE
- Aquatic invasive species prevention measures HERE & HERE
- Watercraft Inspection Video
- Watercraft Decontamination Videos: Inboard/Outboard Decon, Inboard Decon, Ballast Tank Decon & Wakeboard Boat
- Wakeboard video: https://youtu.be/MOgPuCm3HY
Resources
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's 2021 AIS Regulations, Categories of AIS, entire fisheries regs
- 2021 Fishing & Boating Guide
Prevention Steps
Clean
After boating, before you leave the launch:
Remove all visible plants, animals, fish, and mud from your boat, trailer, or other equipment and dispose of in a suitable trash container or on dry land. Don’t transport any potential hitchhiker, even back to your home. Remove and leave them at the site you visited.
Drain
After boating, before you leave the launch:
Drain water from bilge, live wells, ballast tanks, and any other locations with water before leaving the launch. Invasive viruses, zooplankton, and juvenile zebra mussels and Asian clams can be transported in even just a drop of water!
Dry
Before you arrive at the launch to go boating:
Dry your boat, trailer, and all equipment completely. Drying times vary depending on the weather and the type of material. At least five days drying time is recommended.
- Use our Free CD3 Unit at Weigand Marina (Lewis & Clark Lake) to prevent the spread of zebra mussels see how to use it Here
What Spots to Check
Current Zebra & Quagga Mussel Distribution Maps
Nebraska has 4 positive waterbodies for zebra mussels. The Missouri River, the entire length of the river in Nebraska (2016), Lewis and Clark Lake near Yankton, SD (2015), and Offutt Air Force Base Lake in Bellevue, NE (2014). A small infestation was found in Glenn Cunningham Lake in Omaha, NE (2018), the waterbody was drawn down in winter 2018 to freeze and kill the zebra mussel infestation. Once the waterbody refills it will be sampled frequently for zebra mussel. Positive waterbodies can be delisted after 5 years of negative sampling for zebra mussels.
Carter Lake (Omaha, NE) is Nebraska's only suspect waterbody, which means only a single water sample has been found to contain zebra mussel larvae and adults have not been found. A single water sample collected in 2017 tested positive and the waterbody can be delisted in 2020 if no zebra mussel laravae or adults are detected. Lake Zorinsky was delisted in 2019 after 3 years of negative sampling for zebra mussels, the eradication effort conducted in 2010/2011 is considered to have been successful.
Quagga mussels have not been found in Nebraska to date. To view the current national range map click here.
KAnsas Zebra Mussel StatuS
