Here is a list of commonly asked questions about the information on our site. Please feel free to contact us if you do not find your answer. We are happy to help you answer any questions and provide you with the resources you need to nip your invasive species problem in the bud.
This site was created to disseminate information to our partners and Nebraskans. The development of this site was one of many goals set forth on our about us page. The main focus of this website is to house invasive species resources and our project information.
Where can I find more information about Nebraska Noxious Weeds?
The first place to look would be the Nebraska Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Plant Industry. The Nebraska Weed Control Association has a website to help you find more information on controlling noxious weeds. Visit our research page for more information.
How do I control invasive species on my land?
Controlling invasive plants can be very difficult and time consuming. The best first step is to contact you local county weed control superintendent or the Nebraska Department of Agriculture. Controlling invasive species varies with the type of land and the surrounding native vegetation. It is always best to identify the problem species and consult with a professional before taking action. For more ideas on identification and management, visit our invasive species pages.
What is an invasive species?
Unfortunately, it is not a simple concept to define, as it varies from place to place. However, invasive species are species that are non-indigenous, or not native, to a particular ecosystem. Many times these invaders are detrimental to the existing native vegetation. They can have serious economic and ecological impacts. If you think you have a problem with a species you found here on our website, please contact your local weed control superintendent.
What is the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit?
The national Cooperative Research Unit Program is a unique collaboration between the Federal government, universities, states, and non-profit organizations. The mission of the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Program is to:
Train graduate students for professional careers in natural resource research and management,
Conduct research that will create new information useful for the management of natural resources,
Provide technical assistance to our cooperators.
How can I map invasive species on my land?
Mapping can be done with paper and pencil or more technical equipment, like a GPS unit, marking latitude and longitude. Using computer programs like ArcGIS gives users even more flexibility by creating digital interactive maps. No matter what your method, mapping invasives on your land and taking steps towards controlling invasions can help you in your control efforts, as well as save you money in the long run.
What grants are available for invasive species control in Nebraska?
There are plenty of options out there to help you control invasive species on your land. The Nebraska Environmental Trust and the Pulling Together Initiative are two great places to start. Check out our partner links to find out what plans are available for you in your area. Some programs are highly competitive, so ask advice, and have a thorough plan for your project when you are ready to apply.
Where can I find information about zebra mussels?
Zebra mussels are one of the most threatening aquatic invasives species. Nebraska has recently identified them in Zorinsky Lake (Omaha) and in the lake at Offutt Air Force Base. Information about the species can be found at our Aquatics page.
FAQ's –
1. What are zebra mussels?
* Zebra mussels look like small clams, usually less than an inch long with a D-shaped shell. Usually the shell is yellowish-
brown with alternating dark and light stripes.
* Zebra mussels use sticky byssal threads to attach tightly to any hard surface.
* They are from the Black and Caspian Seas
2. Why are zebra mussels a problem?
* Zebra mussels are a problem because they filter water, up to a liter a day, to eat plankton. Although this filtering action may
clear up the water, clear water does NOT mean clean water.
* Larval fish and native mussels rely on this same plankton to survive.
* Zebra mussels also clog pipes by forming colonies inside of the pipes. Then the water cannot flow through the pipes as easily.
*They can clog up the cooling systems of boat engines.
*When zebra mussels die, they wash up on the shore, can pile up on beaches and begin to decay. Their shells are razor sharp
and can cut bare feet.
3. How do zebra mussels spread?
* Transport by people is the primary vector for the spread of zebra mussels to unconnected waters. Boats that move from one
water to another without draining (bilge, live well,etc) can transport zebra mussels as well as a number of other harmful
organisms – like fish pathogens.
*When bait buckets are moved from one water body to another
* Zebra mussels can attach to a solid substrate (boat) and can be easily transported on recreational equipment.
* Zebra mussel larvae (veligers) are about the diameter of a human hair and are so small you can’t see them without a
microscope.
* The veliger floats in a water column for 1-5 weeks and then as it grows it begins to sinks and search for a hard surface on
which to live and grow.
* It is illegal to release zebra mussels into a waterbody.
* Zebra mussels are NOT likely spread by birds.
4. How do we control zebra mussels?
* There are very few successful control methods for zebra mussels in the wild.
* Some chemicals can be used to kill zebra mussels; however, if these chemicals were used in an open lake they would also
affect fish and native mussels.
* In Virginia, zebra mussels were eradicated from a small lake. Costly, and detrimental to native mussels, this represents the
first and only successful eradication of zebra mussels in the wild. For more information about this treatment visit: here
5. How can I help prevent the spread of zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species?
* The spread of zebra mussels can be prevented by draining all of the water from boats, live wells, and bait wells before
entering a new water body.
* Thoroughly inspect your boat’s hull and trailer for any zebra mussels and remove.
*Wash equipment with 140-degree water (your local car wash hot water rinse),
* Let equipment sit for 5 days.
* Never take fish or plants from one lake and put them in another.
* Never dip your bait bucket into a lake or river if it has water in it from another waterbody.
More information can be found here
6. What do I do if I find a zebra mussel or other invasive species?
* If you find a zebra mussel, do not release it back into the water, note the date and the specific location, and contact the
Nebraska Invasive Species Project at (402) 472-3133 or email at invasives@unl.edu. You can also report it online
at: http://snr.unl.edu/invasives/hotline.htm
* Public assistance in reporting zebra mussel sightings at new locations is essential to help prevent its spread to other inland
lakes and rivers.
7. What can I do to help/volunteer?
For volunteer opportunities, please visit our volunteers page
8. What is the status of Zorinsky Lake?
*The lake has been drawn down nearly 20ft to expose and freeze the zebra mussels. The lake will remain lowered through
most of next year to allow for thorough sampling. If no zebra mussels are found, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will
begin restocking the lake with fish in fall 2011. Read the press release here:
