Balcom, N., University of Connecticut Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, E. Rohmer, Oberlin College, 1994.  Zebra Mussel Awareness and Boat Use Patterns Among Boaters Using Three "High Risk" Connecticut Lakes

Proceedings of The Fourth International Zebra Mussel Conference, Madison, Wisconsin, March 1994

Zebra Mussel Awareness and Boat Use Patterns Among Boaters Using Three "High Risk" Connecticut Lakes

Abstract:
Three lakes in western Connecticut all part of the Housatonic River drainage basin, are considered "high risks" for invasion by zebra mussels, based on water chemistry data and popularity among boaters and fishermen. A survey was conducted to assess the level of awareness of zebra mussels by users of these lakes, and to examine transient boat usage patterns.

During the summer 1993, 325 interviews were conducted with boaters using seven boat ramps on Candlewood Lake, Lake Lillinonah and Lake Zoar. At the conclusion of the interview, boaters were given a zebra mussel alert card, listing telephone numbers of key Sea Grant contacts in the Northeast, and an information card on boat cleaning to minimize overland transportation of aquatic nuisance species.

Fishermen (95.4%) had the greatest awareness of zebra mussels many (75.9%) also knew that their boats and fishing activities could be a means for spreading the mussels. Far fewer pleasure boaters (69.2%) knew of the mussels or that their boats were a potential dispersal mechanism (30.9%). Jet ski operators (44.7%) had little or no knowledge about the mussels or their transport (19.2%).

The majority of fishermen interviewed were not using live aquatic baits. Most had some type of live well on board, and a small number planned to bring fish home in lake water. "Drying out" periods between boat uses averaged eight days, with fishing boats averaging seven days and jet skis, four days. In contrast boaters were more optimistic as to when the boat would be used next, averaging two days. With few exceptions, boats were kept on trailers at home.

Boats that had been or were expected to be used on another waterbody on the same day were relatively few in number and predominantly jet skis. Multiple daily uses occurred between the three lakes only. Most of the boats had been previously used on the lake of the interview location, or on one of the other two study lakes. About 5% of the boats had been previously used out-of-state, the majority in New York. Some of the New York boats had been used a day or two before, but only one of the four waterbodies named (Hudson River) has confined zebra mussel populations. Despite the small number of non-resident interviews, 62 fishing derby permits for these lakes were issued to non-residents, emphasizing the amount of interstate boat traffic.

Entire Paper
Keywords: Education, Outreach, Zebra_mussel
Product Type: Publication, Proceedings
User Type: Boating_and_Shipping