Chickamauga Lock
Sign Warns of Sticking Pins--First We've Seen in 17 Locks...
Mollusks on the Chickamauga Lock Wall
While locking down in Chickamauga today the wall appeared to be peeing on us. On closer examination it wasn't the wall but little mollusks that were the source of the spray. I've never seen a zebra mussel, but I've certainly heard of them.
Zebra mussels are native to the freshwater rivers of southern Russia--like the Volga. They showed up in the Great Lakes in 1988; probably by hitching a ride on or in a freighter. Since then they've been spreading quickly throughout Canada and the US. Zebras may have worked their way down Lake Michigan and into the inland rivers. Or, they may have stowed away on a boat being trailered down from the Great Lakes. Either way, Zebra mussels are now found on the entire length of the Tennessee. Zebras are categorized as an invasive species because they have few predators, grow quickly and densely, and are responsible for killing off indigenous clams and mollusks. In fact, zebras grow so densely together they can completely clog huge pipes. Power companies spend some $20M/year clearing zebras out of their cooling systems.
Zebra Mussel (Wikipedia Photo)
So, did we see zebra mussels today? I'm afraid so as they have the same coloring, striations and 'D' shape of the zebra mussel pictured above. I'll have to keep an eye on Nellie's underwater thruhulls.
Chattanooga Yacht Club to Downtown Chattanooga
At the downtown Chattanooga dock. Fifteen miles today and 2345 miles into the journey. DBH
