Invasive zebra mussels pose fresh threat to Texas waters

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has discovered another Texas body of water that has been infested by a dangerous invasive species.

According to a release, Fort Phantom Hill Lake, near Abilene, has now been tested as “positive” for invasive zebra mussels — signifying that there have been multiple detections of the mussel, though TPWD needs additional evidence to determine if the species is fully established.

In late August, TPWD received a report of a single adult zebra mussel next to a dock. Analysis of the most recent routine plankton samples from the lake found two confirmed microscopic zebra mussel veliger larvae from a sample taken near the site of the adult zebra mussel.

In good news, an extensive survey of the shoreline and associated infrastructure found no additional