Minnesota officials have discovered worrisome larvae of zebra mussels, one of the most prevalent threats to Great Lakes waters, in a lake outside St. Paul, Minnesota.
What happened?
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) officials confirmed the presence of zebra mussel larvae in Tanners Lake in Landfall, Minnesota, the Pioneer Press reports. The sample showed the presence of 12 zebra mussel larvae (called veligers) in the water.
“While the state Department of Natural Resources found no adult zebra mussels in Tanners Lake, the presence of zebra mussels indicates that the zebra mussel population is developing,” officials said in a statement. Because of their presence, Tanners Lake is now classified as “zebra mussel infested.”
Minnesota law requires boaters, anglers and people with waterfront property to follow strict guidelines to prevent the spread of zebra mussels, regardless of whether the lake is infested.
Why are zebra mussels important?
Zebra mussels are an invasive species that can spread quickly. MDNR states that females can lay 100,000 to 500,000 eggs per year. After their fertilized eggs form shells, they can attach themselves to surfaces, forming dense beds that can number in the tens of thousands within a square yard. They were first recorded in the Great Lakes region in 1988 and are believed to have been introduced through contaminated ballast water from cargo ships.
Zebra mussels wreak havoc on ecosystems, outcompeting native mussels and other species for resources and interfering with the growth of natural aquatic plants. For humans, they can clog power plant inlets, encrust boats and other equipment, and cut the feet of swimmers and pets while attached to docks and rafts.
Minnesota isn’t the only state facing headaches from invasive species. Officials in Iowa recently discovered zebra mussels in the Des Moines River, part of a westward spread of zebra mussels over the past few decades.
What is being done about zebra mussels?
MDNR encourages people to report the presence of zebra mussels in any body of water, regardless of whether there is a known infestation. They should also follow the department’s guidance on cleaning their boats, properly disposing of bait, and drying their boats for 21 days before moving from one body of water to another.
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