QUAGGA MUSSELS

These tiny mussels don't have legs, but they're excellent hitchhikers and your boat might be their next ride. Quaggas like to attach to hard surfaces, which makes the hull, motor, and any part of your boat that submerges a potential place for the mussels to hide out. And once quagga mussels have arrived at their new location, a single adult female can produce one-million eggs in a single season. Prevention is the key.

• Inspect. For motorized boats, look closely at the hitch, rollers, motor, propeller, axle and bilge. For non-motorized boats, look along paddles and hull. Remove any plants and animals that you find before leaving the waterbody.
• Drain & Empty. Your motor, wet well and bilge should be entirely drained on land before leaving the waterbody. Empty your bait bucket on land before leaving the water body and never release live bait into the water or release aquatic animals from one waterbody into another.
• Rinse & Dry. High-pressure, hot water is ideal for rinsing your boat. A garden hose is an option if there is nothing else available. Then let boat air-dry if possible.
• For more information:
  Oregon State Marine Board: http://www.boatoregon.com/
  Protect Your Waters: http://www.protectyourwaters.net/
  100th Meridian Initiative: http://www.100thmeridian.org/