Invasive mussels threaten Lake Champlain’s famous sunken wrecks

VERGENNES, Vt. (AP) — Invasive zebra mussels are threatening an underwater historic preserve in Lake Champlain.

The preserve maintained by the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum is made up of nine Vermont vessels and one New York vessel, all of which can be explored by divers.

They include tug boats and canal boats.

Archaeologist Chris Sabick tells WCAX-TV that the stories behind the boats may be all that’s left one day because of damage caused by the zebra mussels.

He said thousands of mussels are attached to the vessels, putting a strain on the water-logged, wooden decks.

RELATED

Mystery solved? Shipwreck may be oldest found in Lake Erie

Debate swirls among marine archaeologists and shipwreck hunters who are trying to identify the wreck about how confident they are it is indeed the Lake Serpent that sank in 1829.

Steve Smith is a marine life expert at the ECHO Center for Lake Champlain. He said the colonies can be 2 to 3 inches thick.

He said they can degrade iron, in addition to wood.

In Other News

January 6 convict asks for light sentence in order to remain in Navy

An active-duty service member convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack urged a judge for a light sentence in order to remain in the Navy.

Agreement helps military spouses keep federal jobs in overseas moves

Here's how an agreement between the Pentagon and State Department will help federally employed military spouses move their jobs overseas in a PCS.

Navy ship underway for Gaza pier mission suffers fire, returns to US

The cargo ship 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo suffered a fire in its engine room Thursday, forcing it to return to Florida, the Navy said.

Biden says uncle’s remains never found during WWII due to cannibals

While the claim contradicts the DPAA report about his uncle's fate, Biden's comments on cannibalism in the region during WWII are not far off.

USS Gunston Hall is back home after a four-month deployment

Gunston Hall returned to the states after taking part in NATO's biggest exercise in decades.

Load More