Zebra Mussels Invade Holt Lake in Tuscaloosa County

The US Army Corps of Engineers announced last week that highly invasive and destructive zebra mussels— known for causing damage in the Great Lakes— have been detected for the first time in lakes and rivers near Tuscaloosa. The zebra mussels are not known to have made it here to Lower Alabama yet, but one of the main components of the work of the MBNEP is called Ecosystem Status & Trends. That’s a scientific way of saying we keep a very close eye on what’s going in the waterways and ecosystems of our Bay and Estuary. The situation going on upstate is one reason why. The zebra mussels are a threat to the state's waterways and are known for damaging boats, clogging water intake/filtration pipes and threatening native mussel species. In addition to monitoring what’s going on here in our waters, the MBNEP also takes action when necessary and provides others the tools with which to do so. The management and eradication of invasive species is a core piece of that work. Together with our partners, and your help, we are helping to keep our local ecosystems healthy for generations to come. For an example of MBNEP’s invasive species management planning check out our Three Mile Creek Watershed Management Plan and what we’re doing to make sure native species continue to thrive there:http://www.mobilebaynep.com/.../MBNEP_ThreeMileCreek...