TPWD emphasizes the importance for boaters for “cleaning, draining and drying” that they have cleaning, draining and drying “

Press release
Media contacts: TPWD Press Office, 512-389-8030, news@tpwd.texas.gov
May 19, 2025

TPWD emphasizes the importance for boaters for “cleaning, draining and drying” that they have cleaning, draining and drying “

Austin – With the Memorial Day and the start of the summer on the horizon, the Texans will spend time for fun and relaxation on the water throughout the state. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) calls on boat drivers and paddlers who enjoy the waterways to protect the Texas lakes that we love from aquatic invasive species.

“The Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial prelude to the boat time in Texas. While we want everyone to have a great time, we also want to give invasive types of free journeys and help 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, release and dry out their watercraft and equipment every time.”

In addition to preventing damage from water ecosystems, water infrastructure and free time experience in lakes, when boaters clean, drain and dry their boat because it is also the law. The transport of prohibited aquatic invasive species in Texas is illegal. Boat drivers have to drain the entire water from their boat and on board containers, including baitermin, before they are bought or approaching a body. You also have to remove all invasive plants from the boat and the trailer before leaving a lake.

Two of the greatest threats to Texas Lakes, Zebra mussels and huge salvinia, continue to spread to new areas in Texas. In addition, other high -invasive species can also be spread out or introduced by boat drivers, including water hyacinth, Crested and Yellow Floating Heart and Quagga Mussels – or other invasive species that are still not found in Texas.

Zebra cuddling, a non -native shellfish that finds hard surfaces, are a significant threat to our lakes. These invasive mussels damage boats and infrastructure for water supply and control, change the ecosystem lake and cause damage to local species. They also scatter coastal lines with dangerous, sharp mussels that affect relaxation at the lake.

Zebra mussels can now be found in 38 Texas lakes in seven river pools and in river river downstream from affected lakes. TPWD and partners monitor numerous endangered lakes in the state in the state to recognize zebra and closely related quagga mussels at an early stage. But as soon as they have been introduced and set up in a lake, nothing can be done to control or eradicate them.

“Zebra mussels and quagga mussels can be attached to boats or even worn by anchors or plants that stick to boats,” said Monica McGarrity, high -ranking scientist from TPWD for aquatic invasive species. “Microscopic zebra mussels can also be transported into residual water in the boat. Only a few minutes for cleaning, drain and dry boats can make a big difference in our efforts to prevent further spread of these very harmful species and damage in Texas Lakes.”

Giant Salvinia, a highly invasive, freely weak water fern, which can double its cover area in a week, is another big threat to our lakes. This invasive plant can produce thick surface mats that make fish, boating, swimming and other water recreations almost impossible.

Giant Salvinia is currently present in 27 East Texas lakes and numerous rivers, streams and swamps between Houston and Beaumont. While the TPWD efforts have held huge salvinia from limiting the Angling or the boat access in public waters from Texas, they could still stop from one lake to a boat, a trailer or other equipment from one lake to another.

“There is no doubt that the Texans love their lakes, but we also need everyone to take measures to protect them,” said John Findeisen, head of the TPWD Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Teams. “It only needs a tiny fragment of an invasive plant to create a problem in a new lake and prevent the introduction of aquatic invasive species to manage costly, long -term efforts as soon as they establish themselves in a lake. A ounce of prevention is worth a pound.

TPWD calls on the boat drivers to follow these three simple but decisive steps to clean boats, drain and too dry and too dry and too dry before they drive from the lake to sea: plants, mud and debris; Display all of the water from the boat and the equipment; If possible at home, home, open the compartment and let it dry completely for at least a week.

When a boat or other equipment in the water was kept on a lake with invasive mussels, it is probably affected and is an extremely high risk of transporting these invasive species into a new lake. Before moving the Bootes TPWD, call 389-4848 to get instructions.

Further information on proper cleaning, draining and drying of boats and equipment can be found in the YouTube channel TPWD for A Short instruction video. To learn more about zebras mussels and other invasive types in Texas, visit tpwd.texas.gov/stopinvasive.

TPWD and partners monitor in invasive species in Texas Lakes, but everyone who discovers you on boats, supporters or equipment that is moving can help prevent new introductions by reporting the sighting at TPWD under (512) 389-4848. Anyone who finds invasive types such as zebras mussels in lakes in which they have not yet been found aquaticinvasives@tpwd.texas.gov.