In an effort to combat the spread of zebra mussels, 30 additional counties in North and Central Texas were added to the recently implemented rules requiring all boats operating on public water be drained after use.
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the regulation requires the draining of live wells, bilges, motors and any other receptacles or water-intake systems coming into contact with public waters.
The additional counties added to the vessel draining requirements are: Archer, Bastrop, Bell, Bosque, Burnet, Clay, Comal, Comanche, Coryell, Eastland, Ellis, Erath, Falls, Fayette, Freestone, Hamilton, Hays, Henderson (west of SH 19), Hill, Johnson, Leon, Limestone, Llano, McLennan, Navarro, Robertson, Somervell, Travis, Wichita and Williamson.
The invasive species rapidly reproduce and can have serious economic and recreational impact to Texas reservoirs.