Article reprinted with permission from Oceanspace, formerly located at http://www.oceanspace.co.uk

Issue Number 79 dated Monday 5th October 1998
Zebra Mussels Invade Connecticut

Zebra mussels, thumbnail-sized freshwater molluscs which arrived in the United States through ship ballast water in 1986, have invaded their 19th state with the confirmation of their presence in East Twin Lake in Salisbury, Connecticut according to an announcement from the Connecticut Sea Grant College Program.

The discovery of the mussels is the first confirmed sighting in Connecticut, and only the second discovery of the mussels in New England. Since their discovery in Lake St. Clair in June, 1988, zebra mussels have spread throughout the Great Lakes; the Arkansas, Hudson, Illinois, Mississippi, Mohawk, Ohio, St. Lawrence, and Tennessee Rivers; and other waters of southern Canada and the Eastern United States. They have also been intercepted on boat trailers at four points in California.

The mussels are fouling organisms, secreting tiny threads to attach themselves to rocks, aquatic weeds and industrial and residential water intake pipes. They rapidly form large reefs, reducing or blocking water flow through the pipes, fouling municipal drinking water, electric power generation, and industrial plants. The mussels can also alter local aquatic ecosystems, by using the food supply and habitat of native organisms. Additionally they have impacted navigation, fishing and beach use.

The cost of the zebra mussel invasion has been high, but aggressive efforts, by the National Sea Grant College Program in partnership with industry, to implement both awareness education and research to control, monitor and mitigate the impacts of zebra mussels, has helped reduce early cost damage efforts downward from a forecast of billions of dollars. A study by the National Sea Grant Zebra Mussel Clearing House in Brockport, NY estimated that costs of the zebra mussel infestation to raw water-dependent infrastructure users, such as utility companies, between 1989-1995 to be approximately $69 million.

James T. Carlton, the Director of Maritime Studies at Mystic Seaport/Williams College, has received $750,000 in funding from Connecticut Sea Grant, the U.S. Coast Guard and other federal agencies to do landmark studies on how zebra mussels and other invading plants and animals travel from one place to another.

To address the threat in Connecticut, an informal task force on zebra mussels was established in 1992 by Nancy Balcom (of The University of Connecticut at Avery Point), comprised representatives from industry, academia, anglers, lake managers and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.

The group has met regularly for several years to develop strategies for monitoring and controlling the mussels.

Balcom, has been conducting educational outreach since 1992 to warn of the potential zebra mussel invasion and instruct boaters and lake managers on steps to take to prevent their spread. The Sea Grant programs have a Congressional mandate to support research and education regarding zebra mussels.

Zebra mussel contacts: Nancy Balcom, Connecticut Sea Grant, E-mail: balcom@uconnvm.uconn.edu , James T. Carleton, Connecticut Sea Grant Director, Williams College / Mystic Seaport Maritime Studies Program E-mail: james.t.carlton@williams.edu, Charles O'Neill, Director, Sea Grant National Zebra Mussel Information Clearinghouse E-mail: coneill@cce.cornell.edu, Peg Van Patten, Communications Director, Connecticut Sea Grant E-mail: vanpatte@uconnvm.uconn.edu