Zebra Mussels Found in Sherman’s Lake Dean Gilbert

ent--article_ _media__contact">Media Contact: Steve Lightfoot 512-389-4701, steve.lightfoot@tpwd.texas.gov; Stephanie Salinas 512-389-8756, stephanie.salinas@tpwd.texas.gov

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AUSTIN—Zebra mussels have been found in Lake Dean Gilbert in the city of Sherman’s Pecan Grove Park.

Lake Dean Gilbert is a small, 45-acre lake and its fishery is managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Inland Fisheries Division as a Community Fishing Lake. There is no boat ramp at the lake, but small boats, kayaks and canoes can be launched from shore. The lake is not used as a water supply, and water from it eventually flows back into the Red River, which also has zebra mussels.

“We want to remind people using Lake Dean Gilbert to take precautions so that zebra mussels don’t spread to any other water bodies,” said Brian Van Zee, TPWD Inland Fisheries regional director. “If you’re fishing on the lake, drain all water from your bait buckets before leaving. If you keep fish caught from the lake, put them on ice. If you’re kayaking or canoeing on the lake, drain all the water from your boat and let it dry completely before taking it to another lake.”

Adult zebra mussels and their microscopic larvae, called veligers, are both present in the lake. It is illegal to possess or transport them or any other prohibited aquatic invasive species.

A North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) pipeline running beneath the lake carries raw water from Lake Texoma, which was the first public water body in Texas to become infested with zebra mussels, to the NTMWD water treatment plant at Wylie. A leak was recently detected in the pipeline and the NTMWD will soon begin efforts to repair the pipe; requiring a partial drawdown of the lake which may help manage the infestation.

“We will be monitoring the zebra mussel population in the lake.” said Van Zee. “We are working with the NTMWD and the City of Sherman to explore possible treatment options.”

For more information on zebra mussels, visit www.texasinvasives.org.