Rossby waves (r-modes) have been suggested as a means to regulate the spin
periods of young or accreting neutron stars and also to produce observable
gravitational wave radiation. R-modes involve primarily transverse, incompr
essive motions of the star's fluid core. However, neutron stars gain crusts
early in their lives; therefore, r-modes also imply shear in the fluid ben
eath the crust. We examine the criterion for this shear layer to become tur
bulent and derive the rate of dissipation in the turbulent regime. Unlike d
issipation from a viscous boundary layer, turbulent energy loss is nonlinea
r in mode energy and can therefore cause the mode to saturate at amplitudes
typically much less than unity. This energy loss also reappears as heat be
low the crust. We study the possibility of crust melting as well as its pot
ential implications for the spin evolution of low-mass X-ray binaries. Last
ly, we identify some universal features of the spin evolution that may have
observational consequences.