Freshwater Mussels of Texas report, 24Jan2020

On January 24, 2020, three people did a random shoreline freshwater mussel search along Inks Lake, one of the Highland Lakes in Burnet County, Texas. Water levels were approximately eight feet below normal due to an intentional drawdown by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) for continued dock maintenance and cleanup after historic flooding in the fall of 2018. The weather was warm and sunny.
The monitoring period was 2:00 – 3:00 PM, and we walked approximately 900 feet east of the fishing pier in the Day Use Area of Inks Lake State Park (at approximately 30.74431, -98.36480). The substrate was mostly sand. Non-native Asian Clams were observed, but no non-native Zebra Mussels were observed. Five native freshwater mussel species were observed:

• Giant Floater – 5 shells;
• Southern Mapleleaf – 1 shell, 2 valves;
• Tampico Pearlymussel – 1 shell, 1 valve;
• Paper Pondshell – 2 shells; and,

• Threeridge – 2 shells.
  We then spent half an hour surveying a stretch of beach at the western end of the park, but no new species were observed. Survey participants were Kathy, April, and Mike. Many thanks to Marsha May for again providing remote assistance with identification (via texting photos) that afternoon.

Posted on Ιανουάριος 26, 2020 0809 ΜΜ by k_mccormack