With Memorial Day weekend in the rearview mirror and the start of summer upon us, it means that Texans will be heading out to the water a lot more and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) urges boaters and paddlers who enjoy water recreation to do their part to protect the Texas lakes we love from aquatic invasive species.
“Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kick-off to boating season in Texas, and while we want everyone to have a great time, we also want them to avoid giving free rides to invasive species and helping them travel to new lakes,” said Brian Van Zee, TPWD Inland Fisheries regional director. “The best way to prevent the spread of many harmful aquatic invasive species is to clean, drain and dry your boats and equipment – every time.”
Zebra mussels and giant salvinia continue to spread to new areas in Texas. While they remain some of the biggest threats to Texas lakes, other highly invasive species can also be spread or be introduced by boaters, including water hyacinth, crested floating heart and quagga mussels.
