Texas

Can zebra mussels be eradicated from Texas lakes? KSAT explains

Published

2 years ago

May 30, 2022

Can zebra mussels be eradicated from Texas lakes? KSAT explains

Zebra mussels and the way they unfold

SAN ANTONIO – In 2017, zebra mussels had been first present in Canyon Lake by the Texas Parks and Wildlife. Fisheries biologists say as soon as zebra mussels are in a physique of water, they unfold quickly, and boats are accountable.

The mussels connect themselves to boats and hold on to these not adequately cleaned, drained, and dried. As soon as that boater enters a brand new physique of water, the zebra mussels enter the water and start reproducing.

In line with the Texas Parks and Wildlife, 28 texas lakes are thought of infested with zebra mussels.

“Once they develop, they clog up pipes. They get throughout boats. They simply mainly destroy infrastructure,” stated John Tibbs with the Texas Parks and Wildlife.

That may be a big downside for locations like Canyon Lake, the place the lake is the group’s water supply.

The mussels clogged a water consumption pipe belonging to Canyon Lake Water Service Firm in 2019. The infestation choked water pipes, dropping manufacturing by over 50%.

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“The actual fact is that they’ll smother issues and something that’s within the water.” – Mukhtar Farooqi, TPWD

Fisheries biologist pulls buoy out of water revealing zebra mussels. (ksat12)

Smothering Approach

Sarcastically, smothering is precisely the technique that removed zebra mussels in Lake Waco. Biologists say they didn’t have a lot of an opportunity to succeed after they first began the challenge, however they went forward with it anyway. The mussels had been present in Lake Waco in 2014. They fell off a barge that Tibbs stated was put within the water regardless of exhibiting apparent indicators of getting zebra mussels hooked up.

Biologists in Waco knew the specter of zebra mussels, which is why weeks earlier than they had been found in Lake Waco, Parks and Wildlife truly educated metropolis workers on easy methods to spot them. They had been discovered by a lone pair of eyes who noticed the mussels within the water, and that’s how this complete experiment began.

“We outlined an space, and the choice was made to place tarps everywhere in the backside of the lake right here to smother out the ocean mussels. They require oxygen to stay. They require meals to be taken from the water. And so in the event that they had been smashed to the underside of the lake, they’re not going to have the ability to do any of that,” Tibbs stated.

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The mussels had been discovered proper on the shoreline. An space of the lake concerning the dimension of a soccer area was coated in tarps held down by sandbags. The method was the thought of a Waco metropolis worker.

“We gave it sort of out of a ten% probability of success, however it was the town’s cash. So we assist. And he was proper. It labored,” says Tibbs.

Six months after laying the tarps, scientists pulled them up and located one zebra mussel. Years later, they’ve but to seek out any extra. How do they describe the success?

“Fortunate could be one phrase I’d use” – Michael Baird, fisheries biologist, TPWD

The now clear shore of Lake Waco the place giant tarps as soon as laid to kill zebra mussels under. (ksat12)

Right here’s why. The mussels at Lake Waco had been caught early. There have been solely about 75 of them on the time, all adults, and so they hadn’t reproduced but.

“It was caught simply within the nick of time for that method to work,” says Mukhtar.

Most frequently, by the point the mussels are found, there are far too many to manage. That’s the case at each Canyon and Medina lakes. Chemical elimination of the mussels would negatively have an effect on the surroundings, doubtlessly killing off different wildlife. To not point out, “it’s going to be massively costly, a lake of this dimension, to place chemical compounds in there. And so not solely is it environmentally damaging, it’ll be very costly,” Mukhtar stated.

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At Canyon and Medina lakes, it’s about studying to stay with them. Mom Nature helps out considerably on Medina Lake, the place the water is low.

Present ranges are down by 57 toes. In areas the place the water dries up, the mussels will die.

“The lake stage going up and down like that definitely may support in slowing the inhabitants, and perhaps they received’t attain a variable stage. They could not attain the simply massively excessive infestation ranges that we see on lakes like Travis and Canyon,” stated Monica McGarrity, senior scientist for aquatic invasive species for the Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Modifications needed to be made at Canyon Lake to take care of the infestation. Canyon Lake Water Service Firm enlarged its infrastructure, making it large enough for divers to examine and take away any mussels they discover.

Clear, Drain, Dry

Larry Jackson with the Canyon Lake Water Service Firm stated, “Now, we even have a brush that goes down into the casing and can clear out all the particles or any sort of zebra mussels and push them out again into the lake.” The water firm additionally switched to copper for a few of its tools, however the greatest resolution is to “clear, drain and dry” your boats.

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A Texas Division of Wildlife boat being cleaned, drained and dried. (ksat12)

“Examine your boat over, notably if it’s in a slip and it’s been in there a very long time. You actually need to scrub it,” says Tibbs.

Monica McGarrity echos that correct cleansing is essential.

“Drain all of the water from each compartment a decrease the motor. Get all of the water out of that. After which if you get residence, open all the things up and let all the things dry out, ideally for every week.”

“That’s for lakes typically. When that it’s a zebra mussel-infested lake like this one, that makes it even way more necessary to guarantee that there’s no water on board,” Mukhtar stated.

That method, these critters can’t keep on board both.

ALSO ON KSAT.COM

Boaters urged to do their half to cease the unfold of invasive zebra mussels

Nationwide Park Service makes an ‘unlucky’ discovery at Southwest Texas lake: a brand new invasive mussel

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Household shocked to seek out float coated in invasive Zebra mussels at Lake LBJ

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Texas

Quinn Ewers injury update: Texas QB’s status for Mississippi State

Published

4 hours ago

September 28, 2024

Press Room

Quinn Ewers injury update: Texas QB’s status for Mississippi State

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is not expected to play in the Longhorns’ SEC debut game against Mississippi State on Saturday as he recovers from an abdominal injury, ESPN’s Pete Thamel revealed.

Arch Manning will make his second career start for No. 1 Texas against the Bulldogs today.

Ewers was listed as questionable on the Texas football availability report, indicating that he had a 50 percent chance to play in the game, according to the SEC’s terminology.

But the expectation is that Texas will allow Ewers this week and the team’s open weekend coming up before the Oklahoma game on Oct. 12 to fully recover from the ailment.

Ewers sustained the injury in the second quarter of the Longhorns’ victory against UTSA on Sept. 14, retiring to the sideline and then the locker room for evaluation before returning to the sideline wearing street clothes.

Ewers was able to practice with the team on Tuesday, but was limited by coaches on Wednesday and then again on Thursday, as the team placed more emphasis on giving him rest.

Manning played in relief of Ewers in the UTSA game, and made his first career start the following week with Ewers sidelined, leading Texas to a win over UL Monroe.

Ewers has dealt with some nagging injuries during his collegiate career, missing time briefly in the 2022 and 2023 seasons before the abdominal issue this year.

In three games this season, Ewers has completed 73.4 percent of his passes for 691 yards and eight touchdowns.

More … Texas vs. Mississippi State score prediction by expert football model

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Top Dallas-area performers in Texas high school football, Week 5

Published

12 hours ago

September 28, 2024

Press Room

Top Dallas-area performers in Texas high school football, Week 5

Below you’ll find the top performances in rushing, receiving and passing from Dallas-area Texas high school football players in Week 5.

Rushing

Player, School, Yards

Allijah Harrison, Carrollton Newman Smith, 296

Greg Ard, McKinney North, 291

Christian Rhodes, Lake Highlands, 216

Jermirion Robertson, Lincoln, 214

Deondrae Riden Jr, DeSoto, 206

Ryder Grajo, Frisco Independence, 203

JT Harris, Euless Trinity, 201

Damarion Boozer, Carter, 194

Adarion Nettles, Mansfield Summit, 186

Keyzaylan Ware, Samuell, 176

Legend Bey, North Forney, 176

Tenel Hill, Lewisville, 166

Receiving

Player, School, Yards

Brock Boyd, Southlake Carroll, 213

Xavier Johnson, Richland, 208

Carlton Mims, Little Elm, 196

Dilon Tallie, Arlington Bowie, 177

Jordan Mosley, Princeton, 174

Blake Bates, Richardson Pearce, 164

Jett Hamby, Richardson Pearce, 163

Will Krzysiak, Argyle, 155

Ayson Theus, Duncanville, 153

Ja’Quavius Pipkin, Lancaster, 150

Jayden Beasley, Prosper, 143

Julius Spencer, Garland Lakeview Centennial, 141

Prosper High School wide receiver Jayden Beasley (7) makes a run after the catch during the first half as Plano East High School hosted Prosper High School in a District 6-6A football game played at Kimbrough Stadium in Murphy on Friday night, September 27, 2024. (Stewart / Special Contributor)

Passing

Player, School, Yards

Keelon Russell, Duncanville, 474

Presley Harper, Richardson Pearce, 422

Drew Kates, Richland, 398

Marcus Flowers, Princeton, 389

Maguire Gasperson, Argyle, 387

Argyle quarterback Maguire Gasperson (11) tries to elude Colleyville Heritage linebacker Dax... — Argyle quarterback Maguire Gasperson (11) tries to elude Colleyville Heritage linebacker Dax Hebeisen (12) and linebacker Madden Williams (9) during the first half of a District 3-5A Division II high school football game played on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Argyle’s Stadium in Argyle. (Steve Nurenberg/Special Contributor)

Christian Hampton, North Garland, 364

Chris Jimerson Jr., North Crowley, 342

Grant Bizjack, Trophy Club Byron Nelson, 335

Brent Rickert, Rockwall, 321

Howard Fisher IV, Wylie East, 319

Edward Griffin, Coppell, 305

Jerry Meyer III, Waxahachie, 298

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2024 Texas Election Guide: How to register to vote and make your voice heard

Published

22 hours ago

September 27, 2024

Press Room

2024 Texas Election Guide: How to register to vote and make your voice heard

At ABC13 Houston, we believe our democracy works best when everyone participates.

This year, Texas voters will cast ballots for our next president and vice president, U.S. Senator, congressional and state representatives, and decide on multiple judicial races.

Your last day to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.
Check your Texas voter registration | Register to vote (print, sign and mail)
Find your polling place

Texas does not offer online voter registration, but you can visit VoteTexas.gov to fill out, print, sign and mail your application. To be eligible to vote in the November general election, your registration form must be received or postmarked by the Oct. 7 deadline.

You can also register to vote in person at your local Voter Registrar’s office.

Even if you’ve voted before, you should still double-check your registration.

More than a million Texans have been removed from voter rolls since 2021, and the League of Women Voters told ABC13 that some voters have been removed if they didn’t register in the last two federal elections.

Early voting will begin Monday, Oct. 21 and run through Friday, Nov. 1.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Voting by mail in Texas is limited to voters who are:

Ages 65 and older
Sick or disabled
Expected to give birth within three weeks of Election Day
Out of the county on Election Day and during the early voting period
Confined in jail, but otherwise eligible
Civilly committed under Chapter 841 of the Texas Health and Safety Code

The last day to register to vote by mail in Texas is Friday, Oct. 25.

Click here to download an application to vote by mail.

What you can (and can’t) bring to the polls

All voters must present one of the following forms of photo ID:

Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
Texas handgun license issued by DPS
United States military identification card containing the person’s photograph
United States citizenship certificate containing the person’s photograph
United States passport (book or card)

You can still vote if you do not possess or cannot reasonably obtain one of these photo IDs. You will need to fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration at the polls and show a copy or original of one of the following approved IDs:

Certified Domestic Birth Certificate or Court Admissible Birth Document
Current utility bill
Bank statement
Government check
Paycheck
Government document with your name and an address, including your voter registration certificate

If you need assistance, voters may request help by any person other than the voter’s employer, an agent of their employer, or an officer or agent of a labor union to which the voter belongs.

You are not permitted to use a wireless communications device or any device which records audio, images or video within 100 feet of a voting station. This includes smartphones, digital cameras or sound recorders. Election judges are authorized to require anyone to turn off or deactivate any device.

While you may be excited to vote for a particular candidate, you should not wear any campaign t-shirts, buttons, hats or other accessories to the polls. This is considered electioneering, which is not permitted within 100 feet of the voting stations.

What’s on my ballot?

For a glance at what you’ll see at the top of your ballot, click here (PDF).

For down ballot races, see your county election authority’s website for details:

Harris Co.
Fort Bend Co.
Montgomery Co.
Galveston Co.
Chambers Co.
Liberty Co.
Waller Co.
Austin Co.
Brazoria Co.
Calhoun Co.
Colorado Co.
Grimes Co.
Jackson Co.
Matagorda Co.
Polk Co.
San Jacinto Co.
Trinity Co.
Walker Co.
Washington Co.
Wharton Co.