Lake Murray, OK now has Zebra Mussels!

Well I live in Cal and the county I live in is so strict at the boat launches that they will not let a boat get launched if there is as drip of water anywhere in or on the boat or trailer. If there is any found they black flag your boat and are not allowed to launch and have to wait 5 days before getting inspected again. When I failed the inspection the first time (2 weeks ago), because I had a small pool of water in my bilge I was pissed. I now understand the reason behind it all as these mussels are very devastating and from what Ive heard the only way to get rid of them is dry up the lake. The best way from what I have read to avoid spreading them is to completely dry your boat inside and out and dry off the trailer as well. However they can still be in your engine unless you use a closed loop cooling system. From what I've also read, they are unable to live for more than 5 days out of water. Hence the reason they make you wait 5 days before re-inspecting in my County. So, if you completely dry your boat and wait 5 days, theoretically you should be good to go. Sorry to hear about this at a lake near you and hope this helps.

We used to have them VERY bad where we ski on the Mississippi. Just a couple years ago I randomly thought "what the heck...I haven't seen a mussel in years" they seriously just vanished without us even noticing. No idea what anyone did to help the issue.

Keuka wrote: I live and boat on 74Wind's "ancestral home" lake and the mussels have been there for several years. I have never had a mussel attaching to the boat but they are definitely rough on the feet. They do attach to the rocks, docks, waterlines etc. I have also seen zebra mussels in the St Lawrence River. While they have the same issues with the mussels, the water there is much cleaner than before. Wind, where is your family home on the lake? I have lived here all my life except for a 5 year stint in FL after college. My family has also been here for over 150 years. I am from the west side in Pulteney and have lived at the south end in Hammondsport for the last 15 years or so. David

Small world! Old red cottage on point 1/2way down west bluff. Opposite point where was a cinderblock store (defunct now?) on west lake below Pulteney. You might know my brother, Rob Kinyoun, he lives on bluff by state park, the one with the floatplane. He's also got a white Southwind 20. My mother lives by the college. We also owned The Vintage (now Waterfront) and ran The Wheel Inn in the late 70's if you're that old hows that for a blast from the past.....

I know a little more about these little pests now
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebra_mussel

There might be some hope though...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16788183

Yup obviously its better to stop the spread rather than trying to kill them afterwards.

74Wind wrote: We've had a long line of fast inboards there since the beginning of time, and only just got running water in the mid-70's....gotta love the family priorities

Ha, no wonder you fit in so well here.

There are 2 CC's on lifts out front and my cottage still pulls water off the lake. Whats the problem?    (Pete, Ive got a septic system too- just no well.)

Not our lake (we dont drink it, but use it to wash dishes, bathe, etc).

Zoning and other restrictions (wetlands, etc) make it very difficult to get approval to put a well on a small piece of lakefront property. Most are nonconforming lots and cannot meet the required set backs (property lines, lake, road, septic systems and other wells).

Even if you can somehow meet the setbacks, they will usually require you to update the septic to modern standards prior to issuing approval for the well. Once you have a well and septic, very little stands in the way of being able to turn the cottage into a year round home, so thats one way they control development. Gets very expensive very fast!

74Wind wrote: Yep,drinking water. Near the towns some have public water supply, but most draw water from lake, clear & clean. Discharge pumped into leach fields or septic up above road.

"clear and clean" by who's standards? Certainly not federal! I'm surprised the county and state gets away with allowing the practice. Municipal systems drawing off surface waters have to meet some pretty strict standards so they will filter and treat.

Our lakes up north are "clear and clean" as well but codes do prevent using the lake water. In fact, it's tough to get someone to drive a well anymore because they are considered shallow and simply surface water. I like Joel had to install a 50' drilled well several years ago. Joel, I'm sure you have the Wisconsin well # for yours with all the details and water testing. Location of the well is strictly enforced as well - It needs to be a minimum distance of 50' from the septic and absorption unit. (leach field in very old terminology)

8122pbrainard wrote: 74Wind wrote: Yep,drinking water. Near the towns some have public water supply, but most draw water from lake, clear & clean. Discharge pumped into leach fields or septic up above road. "clear and clean" by who's standards? Certainly not federal! I'm surprised the county and state gets away with allowing the practice. Municipal systems drawing off surface waters have to meet some pretty strict standards so they will filter and treat. Our lakes up north are "clear and clean" as well but codes do prevent using the lake water. In fact, it's tough to get someone to drive a well anymore because they are considered shallow and simply surface water. I like Joel had to install a 50' drilled well several years ago. Joel, I'm sure you have the Wisconsin well # for yours with all the details and water testing. Location of the well is strictly enforced as well - It needs to be a minimum distance of 50' from the septic and absorption unit. (leach field in very old terminology)

Hadda look this one up! seems absurd to be forced to drill a well when in the case of Keuka Lake there are 390 BILLION GALLONS of water right out the front door. Seneca Lake has 4.2 TRILLION gallons.......

NY has rules but apparently nowhere near as stringent as your part of the world. Shhhh...we don't want your midwestern bureaucrats going on a regulation roadtrip

Jeff,
It's not the amount of water that's the concern but rather health issues. Have you noticed the title of this thread? You're drinking Zebra mussel larvae!!!   

74Wind wrote: Year-rounders & newer cottages have this black-light type system that supposedly zaps any contaminants. Older places, maybe not.

Well, now the truth comes out!! So, there is a concern regarding bacterial problems with the surface water!!

It's cool about the beer - I do too!

BTW, do you brush your teeth with beer too?

I saw the A-1 on a test flight a couple days prior to the anniversary celebration. They flew it up to the end of the bluff and back. It was quite a sight to see. I have taken some pics over the years. I'll throw one up here so people can see what we are talking about. I have also seen the America fly. Was your bro flying it when it had it's incident? The prop fell off in flight or something. I spent a lot of time on the point directly across from your family cottage in my teenage years. It's probably the narrowest point in the lake. I used to hang at the yacht club in my college years. A friend of mine was the bartender.

Ryan, we appreciate the mussels we're taking back this weekend so to say thanks we left you some hydrilla and a few water hyacinth to say thanks. Should make some good soup in a few years that will go great with a grilled snakehead.

Here are a couple pics of the planes being talked about here. The first one is a replica 1911 Cutiss A-1 Triad, the second is a replica 1914 Curtiss America. 74Wind's brother is one of the pilots of the A-1. That may even be him at the helm in the picture. My best shots where while in the water but both of these have flown. The A-1 several times. Both reproductions were done by a local museum honoring Glenn Curtiss. The planes were built new but they do run period correct Curtiss engines. You can find more information about these planes and the museum at www.glennhcurtissmuseum.org

This is my little towns claim to fame.

David

Glenn Curtiss, hometown boy done good.

Good shots. Not my bro in photo, this is him in a youtube which will undoubtably be attached incorrectly (someone PLEASE tell me how to properly post a youtube) theres more good youtubes on all of the flights

Let's not forget Keuka Lake's other claim to fame; 7 years after the world's first seaplane flight at Hammondsport, Penn Yan Boats was founded in 1921 at the other end of the lake (Penn Yan, NY)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB4zCA-Rl7U&feature=player_detailpage

Yes, get a pair of water shoes, they are better than flying carp...