WARREN – Allegheny National Forest officials report that zebra
mussels have been discovered in the Allegheny River near Warren and
urge boaters to extra precautions to prevent infestation.

The mussels are easily transported to uninfested lakes and
rivers by unsuspecting anglers and recreational boaters trailering
their boats from waterway to waterway.

“It’s very important that everyone who has used his or her boat
and other watercraft in waters infested with zebra mussels, like
Chautauqua Lake and Lake Erie, follow these guidelines before
recreating on the Allegheny Reservoir or Allegheny River,” said
Bradford District Ranger John Schultz. “It is especially important
to remove vegetation that may harbor zebra mussels,” said
Schultz.

The zebra mussel larvae float until they can attach to a solid
surface, such as a pier, boat, intake device, or another mussel,
including the endangered northern riffleshell and clubshell mussels
found in the Allegheny River. The sheer weight and number of the
zebras attached to a native mussel will eventually suffocate the
native mussel. Zebra mussels disrupt aquatic ecosystems, foul boat
hulls, and clog power plant, industrial and public drinking water
intakes.

“Zebra mussels pose real risks to quality boating and fishing
opportunities, and endangered species like the freshwater mussels
in the Allegheny River. We want to educate boaters about the steps
they can take to protect the native wildlife and recreational
attributes of our area,” added Schultz.

Forest officials are also asking boaters to be careful not to
spread zebra mussels to the Allegheny River and reservoir by taking
certain precautions.

Boaters are urged to take the following steps before launching
their boats, canoes, jet skis and other watercraft in the Allegheny
Reservoir or the Allegheny River:

Remove all plants and animals from boats and equipment, even
trailers; drain water from watercraft, including all bilges;
dispose of unwanted live bait on land, and either rinse boat and
boating equipment with high-pressure hot water or dry watercraft
and equipment for at least five days.

Zebra mussels are aggressive, non-native species and they
threaten native endangered species of mussels and the quality of
fishing and boating opportunities in the upper Allegheny River
watershed.

The zebra mussel, a black and white striped bivalve mollusk,
came to North American waters from Europe in international shipping
ballast water. Since its discovery in Lake St. Clair in June 1988,
the zebra mussel has spread rapidly through the Great Lakes and
various river valleys, including the Mississippi, Ohio, St.
Lawrence, Mohawk and Hudson Rivers.

Forest officials also warn travelers to the area that bringing
in firewood from other states and areas could spread a new pest to
the forest that would have devastating effects on ash trees.

Invasive pests such as the emerald ash borer have been traveling
with people from other states such as Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana
in their firewood.

The beetle originated in Asia and feeds on ash trees.

It was first identified in Michigan in 2002.

Information provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Forest Service says once the beetle gets into the bark, infested
branches in the canopy die and the tree dies two to three years
after infestation.

They urge travelers to use local firewood for burning.