Texas
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
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
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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“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.
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An AMBER Alert has been issued for 8-year-old Patrick Killian, who was taken from Aransas Pass, Texas. Authorities are searching for 41-year-old Jeffery Harris in connection with the abduction.
Texas Department of Public Safety says Patrick was last seen at noon on Friday, in the 2600 Block of Armstrong Rd in Aransas Pass, Texas. He is described as a white 8-year-old boy, approximately 4′0″ tall and weighing 50 lbs. He has blonde hair, and blue eyes, and was wearing black frame glasses at the time of his disappearance.
Patrick was last seen with 41-year-old Jeffery Harris, who is described as a white man, standing 5′9″ tall and weighing 215 lbs. Harris has brown hair and blue eyes.
Harris is believed to be driving a silver 2016 Hyundai Elantra with Texas license plate VDK447K.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Aransas Pass Police Department at 361-729-2222.I f you see the vehicle or have any details, please call 9-1-1.
Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
Despite seven consecutive wins and a top-12 national ranking, the Arizona Wildcats are not expected to beat Texas Tech on Saturday.
The latest betting odds for Arizona’s Big 12 matchup vs. the Red Raiders in Lubbock, Texas, favor the home team by at least 5.5 points.
Big 12 road games are tough, but that’s still a shocking spread for a team that is playing as well as Arizona. Texas Tech (12-4, 3-2) has lost its last two home games — 85-84 in OT to Iowa State and 87-83 to UCF.
Arizona (11-5, 5-0) is 2-0 on the road in the Big 12 so far. The Wildcats beat Cincinnati 72-67 and West Virginia 75-56.
Fifth-year senior Caleb Love leads Arizona in scoring at 15.3 points per game. Junior guard Jaden Bradley is averaging 11.7 points and sophomore guard KJ Lewis is averaging 10.6 points.
New Mexico transfer JT Toppin leads Texas Tech in scoring and rebounding at 16.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. But it’s forward Darrion Williams (16.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.9 apg) and guard Chance McMillian (14.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg) that make the Red Raiders go. They’re both versatile defenders and will be difficult matchups for Arizona.
The Arizona at Texas Tech game is scheduled to tip off at 12 p.m. MST on Saturday. Here are the latest betting odds.
Arizona at Texas Tech Betting Odds, Spread, Predictions
(Rankings references are from the NCAA’s NET Rankings, which are used as the primary sorting tool for selection and seeding for the 2025 NCAA Tournament.)
The oddsmakers have Texas Tech as 5.5-point favorites. Here are the latest betting odds, courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Who: No. 12 Arizona at No. 19 Texas Tech in Big 12 men’s basketball
Moneyline: Arizona +172, Texas Tech -210
Spread: Arizona +5.5 (-120)
Over/Under: 150.5
When: 12 p.m. MST/1 p.m. CT | Saturday, January 18
Where: United Supermarkets Arena | Lubbock, Texas
Live Stream: Watch Arizona-Texas Tech live on fuboTV (Start your free trial)
TV Channel: ESPN2
ESPN FPI Prediction: Arizona has a 49.4% chance to win
Our Prediction: Arizona 73, Texas Tech 68
More Arizona & Big 12 Analysis
Texas
Four-Star Recruit Tiki Hola Compares Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, Texas Longhorns, USC Trojans
The USC Trojans are one of the top destinations for class of 2026 defensive lineman Tiki Hola. He visited USC last season when the Trojans hosted the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Hola is a four-star recruit out of Bastrop, Texas and is ranked as the No. 30 defensive lineman in his class per 247Sports. He spoke to On3 about the top five schools on his list and he revealed what he looks for in a school.
Tiki Hola spoke to On3 on Jan. 12 about the update on his recruitment. Hola posted on his social media that his top five schools are currently the Texas Longhorns, USC Trojans, Oregon Ducks, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and SMU Mustangs. He plans to announce his commitment decision in July this year.
Hola talked about what is the biggest factor in his decision.
“I look at relationships. That’s always what I’ve looked at since my freshman year, since I started my recruiting process…not only does my relationship with the position coach matter, but also having a relationship with the head coach is big for me,” Hola said. “Also, I am looking at the development that a school can give me and how I can become a better person and a better player there.”
The chance to immediately start and play is low on the list of priorities for Hola.
“The last thing is where I fit on the depth chart and how valuable I feel on the team,” Hola said.
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Tiki Hola was asked about the visits he’s gone on to his top schools. Here’s what he had to say about his trip to USC.
“My visit to USC was great. I loved seeing all the different cultures and all the different things that they do. USC has a lot of history behind it,“ Hola said. “The stadium was beautiful. The Coliseum was a great environment to be in and the coaches made us feel welcome.”
Hola noted how good of a job the USC coaching staff has done throughout the recruiting process.
“Coach Shaun Nua (USC Defensive End Coach) and Aaron Amaama (USC Personnel Assistant), they’ve done a really good job recruiting me,” Hola said. “The enviroment and culture they have were great. Being able to see everyone in person there was phenomenal, from the facilities to the coaches. They treated us right.”
Hola also had many good things to say about his other visits to schools, so USC is by no means the front runner. Hola raved about the Longhorns and Fighting Irish.
“The relationship that I’ve built with coach Baker, the defensive line coach there, is great,” said Hola about Texas to On3. “We talk about how valuable I am to them. Coach Baker really makes me feel welcome. He loves to talk to me about my family and loves getting to know me personally… They make me feel welcome. Another thing is Texas is not too far from home.”
As for Notre Dame, which is competing in the College Football National Championship on Monday, Hola likes the traditions and coaching staff.
“Coach Marcus Freeman, coach Al Golden… and coach Al Washington, they’ve all done a really good job of keeping in touch with me, especially as they’re going on this national championship run,” Holsa said to On3. “They’ve consistently texted me every week about everything that they’re going through in practice for all these big games that they’re heading into… They have great culture, a great history and the development that they’ve had coming into this new year was great.”
Sounds like Hola is still very much weighing his options.
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