Lake Buchanan infested with zebra mussels, joining dozens of other Texas waterways, officials say Kelsey Bradshaw, Austin American-Statesman
Lake Buchanan is among the latest Texas waterways to be infested with zebra mussels, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The department designated the lake, which is west of Burnet and north of Inks Lake, as being infested after an October sampling showed evidence that the invasive mollusks were reproducing there.
Zebra mussel larvae were found in plankton samples that Lower Colorado River Authority scientists took from three sites around the lake, officials said. Last month, more samples were taken from two of three sites, and zebra mussels were found again.
Zebra mussels were also found earlier in December near a floodgate project at Buchanan Dam.
“At this time, the results indicate that the population in the lake appears to be small,” said Monica McGarrity, a Texas Parks and Wildlife senior scientist for aquatic invasive species management. “However, as we have seen in other Texas lakes, the population is likely to increase rapidly over the next few years.”
Lake Buchanan is one of 31 lakes in the state to be infested with zebra mussels. In Central Texas, Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake, Lake Georgetown, Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls are all infested with zebra mussels, according to a parks department map.