Oregon Fish and Wildlife inspectors found zebra mussels on a boat in Ashland last week, and they're reminding boaters to keep an eye out for the invasive species as more people head to the water during warm summer weather.
It was being hauled from Texas to Auburn, Washington.
Agency coordinator Rick Boatner said the mussels can survive out of the water for up to three weeks. But so far, no zebra mussel colonies have been found in Oregon.
"If they get here, one they’ll disrupt the food web, because they’re filter feeders, and then take all the photo plankton and all the good stuff that the fish need," said Boatner. "Once they get established, they clog all the pipes for water systems, hydro systems. So it takes a great deal of money to keep those open and operating properly.”
Out of 5,000 inspections in Oregon this year, nine vessels have had mussels on them. Inspection stations offer free cleaning, but Oregon boaters are required to have a $20 "aquatic invasive species permit."
Zebra mussels are believed to have come from Europe some time in the 1980s.
They’ve spread through about 20 states. They can attach to a boat hull or catch a lift in a vessel's bilge water.