Zebra Mussels Confirmed in Fish Lake
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the discovery of zebra mussels in Maple Grove’s Fish Lake.
The confirmation comes after Three Rivers Park District found a zebra mussel near the south public access to Fish Lake and alerted the DNR.
Three Rivers and the DNR did a three-hour diving and wading search that covered four areas of the lake. They found more than 30 zebra mussels spread over the four locations.
Zebra mussels are an invasive species that can dramatically alter the ecology of a lake. They spread by clinging onto boats that aren’t properly cleaned by their operators who leave one lake and launch in another.
Whether a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires people to:
• Clean watercraft, trailers and equipment to remove aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.
• Drain all water and leave drain plugs out during transport.
• Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.
• Never release bait, plants or aquarium pets into Minnesota waters.
• Dry docks, lifts and rafts for 21 days before moving them from one waterbody to another.
These additional steps reduce the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species:
• Decontaminate watercraft and equipment – find free stations on the courtesy decontamination page of the DNR website (mndnr.gov/Decon).
• Spray with high-pressure water or rinse with very hot water (120 degrees for at least two minutes or 140 degrees for at least 10 seconds).
• Dry watercraft and equipment for at least five days before using in another waterbody.
People should contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist (mndnr.gov/Invasives/AIS/Contacts.html) if they think they have found zebra mussels or any other invasive species.
For more information on aquatic invasive species, click here.
Also See: Hennepin County Uses Inspections, Drones to Prevent Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species
