This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
California Officials Detect Invasive Mudsnails in Lake Tahoe
In this July 2014 image, the famously clear water of Emerald Bay lies under blue skies at Lake Tahoe. The massive Caldor Fire has raised questions about damage to the lake.
(
Sean Gallup
/
Getty Images
)
Topline:
The invasive New Zealand mudsnail has reached Lake Tahoe. State officials detected the tiny invertebrates on Sept. 15 during a diving survey. This is the first record of them in the iconic lake.
Why it matters: The species are known to displace native snails and disrupt the food chain for trout and salmon. Additionally, the snails can reproduce at alarmingly fast rates in warm freshwaters.
A single female can reproduce itself 230 times a year, and according to Tahoe Regional Planning Agency information officer Jeff Cowen, divers in the Great Lakes have found as many as 500,000 individual snails in a single square meter. That's about 10 square feet.
The backstory: New Zealand mudsnails were first found in Idaho’s Snake River in the late 1980s and have since spread to 22 other states. California first detected them in the Owens River in 2000.
It’s not known exactly where they came from, but scientists theorize that mudsnails were introduced to western rivers through shipments of live sport fish. Since then, they’ve been hitching rides on fishing equipment, shoes, and even in clothing. The mudsnails tend to be smaller than a grain of rice and are difficult to spot with the naked eye.
What's next: Scientists and divers working at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency need to conduct further dives to determine the severity of the infestation. One major issue is that the snails lack natural predators in the United States.
Sponsored message
The best method to scale back the population is containment. The snails spread to other bodies of water by attaching themselves to aquatic gear and clothing, but they don’t do well in freezing or hot temperatures. Leaving items to dry out in very cold or very hot weather should be enough to kill traveling snails and decontaminate personal belongings.
As for Lake Tahoe and the many other bodies of water populated with the mudsnails, scientists are working on ways to contain their spread, but it may be impossible to eliminate them completely.
Go deeper:
Saving 'LA’s Frog' In The San Gabriel Mountains, By Raising Them In-House
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
