The recent Fourth of July holiday offered numerous opportunities for Texans to enjoy the summer sun and water during the heart of boating season. Now more than ever, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is urging boaters to do their part to fight back against aquatic invasive species that threaten Texas lakes.
“The July 4 holiday was an exciting time of year for boating 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 destructive 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, information in a TPWD press release stated. Yet while they remain some of the biggest threats to Texas lakes, other highly invasive species can also be spread by boaters, including water hyacinth, crested floating heart and quagga mussels.
