Muddying the Waters

This article from the Sierra Sun stands out not because it is a detailed, informative piece on the New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum), but because it never actually names the creature it is talking about! Referring only to "NZMS" and "small brown snail," the article does go on to give a good history of the snail's introduction in the western U.S., and mentions the discoveries of "NZMS" late last year in California's Putah Creek and the Mokelumne River (which a lot of people apparently refer to as the Mokelumme River). There are also tips at the end of the about how anglers can clean their gear to avoid becoming a vector of invasive mollusks. If you're a fly fisher in California, you'll want to pick up a copy of February's issue of California Fly Fisher magazine, which has an article about the mud snail invasion.