Four Zebra Mussel Myths And Where They Went Wrong

By David Hammond

Ridding water bodies and infrastructure of the invasive species is difficult and costly for water utilities and power generation facilities — a real concern that is complicated by fake news.

Zebra mussels are fearsome creatures, considering their small size. They are hardy. They breed in massive numbers. They spread rapidly. Their tenacity in clinging to hard surfaces such as intake screens and pipelines has earned them recognition as one of North America’s most costly and damaging aquatic nuisance species.

Like all fearsome creatures, zebra mussels come with their own set of myths. These are the stories we tell ourselves about zebra mussels, usually in preparation to battle them. They are not necessarily false stories, but they are not always true, either. Knowing the difference is critical to developing efficient and cost-effective zebra mussel management strategies.