On Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:12:19 -0500, thunder
wrote:

On Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:50:40 -0400, Wizard of Woodstock wrote:


I've got to believe that there is some kind of preventative measure they
can take to lessen their impact on water intakes and such.

One would think, but while there may be an improvement in fishing short
term, you have to wonder about long term. I'm just guessing here, but
you have to wonder about a filter feeders entry into the food chain. Not
many native species eat the mussels, but many native species eat herring
and other plankton feeders. Remember when acid rain was a problem in the
Adirondacks? The water was incredibly clear, but for the most part
sterile. I'm not saying that will be the case with the mussels, but it
is something to consider.

Well, they've been dealing with them in England since the 19th century
and it doesn't appear to have hurt their eco system much at all.

I may have mentioned this in the original thread, but I read some
research a while back about Ontario and Erie - the zebra mussels may
actually have significantly contributed to the fisheries recovery in
those lakes not to mention the pollution issues.

Roseland lake here in Woodstock could use a couple of bushels of the
critters - not that I would do that you understand, but that lake is
deader than a doornail, polluted beyond recognition from fertilizer
runoff and cow crap - sometimes you can't walk in the park because the
smell from the lake is so bad. Thirty years ago it was a prime fishing
spot in this part of CT - trout, bass, crappie - great lake. Now your
lucky if you can catch an undersized horn pout.