Quagga/Zebra mussel monitoring data for both uninfested and infested waterbodies throughout the state. This includes presence/absence data from plankton tow, artificial substrate, and surface surveys. This data and metadata were submitted by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Staff though the Data Management Plan (DMP) framework with the id: DMP000505. For more information, please visit https://wildlife.ca.gov/Data/Sci-Data.

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Dispersal, establishment, and spread of aquatic invasive species such as the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) can be influenced by riverine velocities and volumetric flows in invaded lake-stream ecosystems. Zebra mussels, which have a planktonic larval form (veliger), disperse rapidly downstream from a source population. Concentrations, dispersal, and body conditions of zebra mussel veligers were studied under different volumetric flow, or discharge, conditions in a coupled lake-stream ecosystem in northern Texas, USA. Veliger densities in lotic environments were strongly related to population dynamics in upstream lentic source populations. A strong exponential decrease in veliger density was observed through a 28-km downstream study reach. Increased water releases from the source reservoir increased veliger flux and dispersal potential, concomitantly increasing veliger flux and decreasing transit time. However, passage through release gates in the dam and increased turbulence in the river during high-discharge events could negatively affect body condition of veligers, and veliger body condition generally decreased from the source population to the farthest downstream site and was lower for veligers during periods of high discharge. Thus increased discharge appears to reduce the proportion of viable veligers because of increased turbulence-induced mortality. Colonization of distant downstream reservoirs can occur if discharge and propagule pressure are sufficient or if interim habitats are suitable for establishment of in-stream populations.

These data represent environmental DNA detections of freshwater mussels in the Green River, KY, USA; West Virginia long-term water quality monitoring sites, USA; and the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac basin, Maryland, USA. “This research dataset has been reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Office of Research and Development, and approved for release. Mention of brand names or vendors does not constitute an endorsement of products or services by the U.S. EPA.”"

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha Pallas 1771) are a tenacious aquatic invasive species in the United States and new infestations can rapidly expand into dense colonies. Zebra mussels were first reported in Marion Lake (Dakota County, Minnesota) in September 2017 and surveys indicated the infestation was likely isolated near the public boat access. A 2.4-hectare area, containing the known zebra mussel infestation, was enclosed and treated for nine days with EarthTec QZ®, a copper-based molluscicide, in an attempt to eradicate the zebra mussels. We conducted an on-site bioassay to confirm treatment efficacy. The bioassay was conducted in mobile assay trailer that received a continuous flow of treated lake water and zebra mussels test animals that were collected from White Bear Lake (Ramsey County, MN). Zebra mussel mortality in the treated bioassay tanks achieved 99 percent mortality (95-percent Confidence Interval: 98 – 100 percent) and a predictive model indicates in-lake mortality as low as 85 percent may have occurred; therefore, our results indicate that the Marion Lake treatment may not have induced complete zebra mussel mortality. Post-treatment assessments and surveys are recommended to further verify treatment success and monitor lake conditions in regards to zebra mussel infestation.

Data are included for two types of field surveys conducted for freshwater mussels throughout the Susquehanna River Basin (and one site in the Potomac River Basin) in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States from 2008-2010. Timed search (qualitative) surveys were conducted in consecutive ~200 meter sections of river (at least 8 in each stream). The number of mussels of each species and associated search time were recorded for each survey section to determine a catch per unit effort (CPUE; number of individuals found per person hour). Within qualitatively surveyed areas, one ~200 meter section of stream was selected in which to conduct quantitative surveys to estimate mussel abundance, assess presence of juvenile mussels, and quantify population demographics. At each survey site, a subset of ~30 Elliptio complanata was haphazardly selected and retained for shell thin-sectioning and age determination. Two sites (Pine Creek and Buffalo Creek) were resurveyed both qualitatively and quantitatively in 2014 and 2015 after experimental re-introduction of the American eel (Anguilla rostrata), a documented host fish for E. complanata.

Multibeam and sidescan sonar were collected for a total of 15 sites in the North Arm, Maxwell Bay, and St. Albans Bay of Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, to determine whether hydroacoustics could be used in turbid rivers and lakes as a method of rapid detection for invasive zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) infestations. Hydroacoustic data were collected in June, August, and the end of September, 2022 at all 15 sites. This dataset is composed of bathymetry in the form of digital elevation models and 3D point cloud (in the form of XYZ text file), sidescan sonar image mosaics, and underwater video still images for assessing the detection of Dreissenids using hydroacoustics and underwater video for habitat.

Overview The Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) funds habitat improvement work and associated monitoring in the Central Valley of California to increase salmonid populations in furtherance of meeting CVPIA fish doubling goals. This data package contains three datasets for larval White Sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) monitoring in the San Joaquin River (SJR) conducted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Lodi Fish and Wildlife Office. SJR_Larval_WST_Set Data: This dataset contains data on an experimental sampling program using boat-mounted drift nets (D-frame nets), a large drift net attached to a stationary pontoon (pontoon net), and otter trawls to catch larval White Sturgeon in the San Joaquin River. Sets were made at targeted locations from March-July in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017. A total of ten White Sturgeon were captured in 2016 and 11 in 2017, all with D-frame driftnets. SJR_Larval_WST_Catch Data: This dataset contains data for individual fish caught in the San Joaquin River. Species and fork length were recorded for most individuals. SJR_Fish_Taxonomy Data: This dataset contains data for fish codes used in the Catch datafile. For each species that was captured, the Species codes are listed with the corresponding Interagency Ecological Program code, common name, taxonomy (Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species), and whether or not the species is native to the region.

Zebra mussels are representative of nonindigenous aquatic species (NAS) with devastating economic, recreational, and environmental impacts that are already under watch as a problematic species across the U.S. and in Texas. Targeting dispersal pathways is likely the most efficient means of controlling their spread further west. The movement of recreational watercraft is one of the main vectors for the spread of zebra mussels and other NAS among lakes. Thus, we created a risk assessment to guide monitoring efforts to detect and report new sightings of zebra mussels and other NAS. Lake risk scores were based on the potential establishment and spread of zebra mussels. Lake establishment risk was determined by applying a habitat suitability index (HSI) of water physicochemical parameters compiled from preexisting sources and supplemental field collection (Child Item 1: "Water physicochemical parameters of twenty Texas and New Mexico lakes 2022-2023"). The risk of spreading zebra mussels from a lake was determined by centrality measures of network analysis to identify lakes acting as hubs (degree score), stepping stones (betweenness score), and cutpoints. We applied network analysis at three different maximum roadway distances based on the 95th , 75th , and 50th percentiles of boater movement. The combination of HSI and centrality scores (Child Item 2: "Habitat suitability scores, network scores, and infestation status for 225 lakes in Texas and New Mexico") were used to identify potential high risk lakes.