Texas Porch

Boating / Invasive species

Medina Lake is infested with zebra mussels—boaters must decontaminate

Medina Lake, popular for fishing and boating northwest of San Antonio, is officially designated as infested with invasive zebra mussels, and boaters are required by law to clean, drain, and dry before moving to another body of water.

Bexar County The Great Outdoors

Medina Lake is a reservoir on the Medina River in the Hill Country northwest of San Antonio, partly in Bandera County and partly in Medina County. It is popular with boaters and anglers from Bexar County. TPWD designated Medina Lake as fully infested with zebra mussels in June 2021.

Zebra mussels are highly invasive and can damage boat engines, hulls, and water infrastructure. Moving a boat from an infested water body to a clean one can spread the infestation. Texas law requires boaters leaving any water body to clean all plants and debris off the boat, drain all water from the boat, livewells, and bait containers, and dry everything completely before transporting to another lake. Possession and transport of zebra mussels is illegal. Violations can result in fines up to $500 per offense.

Boats that have been stored in the water at an infested lake may need professional high-pressure hot water decontamination before being moved. If you are unsure, call TPWD at 512-389-4848. Check the TPWD invasive species page at tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat/protect_water/ for the full list of infested Texas lakes.

Source to confirm: TPWD – Medina Lake Fishing

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