Drain Your Boat When You Leave Lake Fork

Zebra mussels are an invasive species that have reached several Texas lakes. They attach to boat hulls, bilges, livewells, and motors. If a boat carries lake water to a new water body, mussels can spread quickly. Texas law requires you to drain all water (including from livewells, bilges, and bait buckets) before leaving public freshwater.

This rule applies at Lake Fork and at all public boat ramps in Texas. Inspections can occur at boat ramps. Violating the rule is a legal offense. When in doubt, drain everything, inspect the hull, and let the boat dry before moving it.