Zebra Mussels

Europe and Western Russia and were brought over to the Great Lakes in ballast water of freighters. Zebra mussels can cause problems for lake shore residents and recreationists. Homeowners that take lake water to water lawns can have their intakes clogged. Zebra mussels will attach to boats/motors, nets, docks, swim platforms, boat lifts, and can be moved on any of these objects. While mussel larvae can be present in bilge water and live wells, research shows that Zebra mussels are most likely to be transported by clinging to weeds. Zebra Mussels were first discovered in the Great Lakes in 1988 and in Duluth/Superior Harbor in 1989. They have spread throughout the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River from Brained downstream and are now in other rivers and inland lakes. Zebra mussels are a prohibited invasive species which means import, possession, transport, and introduction into the wild is prohibited.

Zebra Mussels were discovered on Clearwater Lake on July 5, 2015. The MN DNR came out on July 8th to investigate and found zebra mussels attached to clam shells. They ranged in size from one-third to two-thirds of an inch (1.4 cm to 2.6 cm). They have spread quickly over a few years and are now found throughout the lake. Currently there are no practical options for treatment against the Zebra Mussels, but new proposed methods are under testing and development.