Scuba divers from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have found zebra mussels in Pelican Lake in Crow Wing County near Brainerd. They were found in two separate locations during a search of the lake on July 9.
The search was a follow-up to an intensive search last November after a single juvenile zebra mussel was found on a dock. The November search of the lake failed to turn up any additional mussels. DNR staff also asked the Pelican Lake Association to notify its members to report any suspect mussels, but no other zebra mussels were found in 2011.
Educational and enforcement efforts to limit the spread of invasive species will increase at the lake due to its designation as infested waters. Minnesota law prohibits the possession or transport of any aquatic invasive species (AIS) in the state. AIS include, but are not limited to, zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil and spiny waterfleas. Boaters and anglers need to continue to take extra precautions when using this popular lake as zebra mussels could pose risks for other waters.
Boaters are required by law to:
• Remove aquatic plants and zebra mussels from boats and trailers.
• Drain all water, including pulling the drain plug, open water draining devises, and draining bilges and live wells; the drain plug must be removed or open when transporting boat on public roads.
• Drain bait buckets when exiting lakes that have been designated as infested with spiny waterfleas or zebra mussels; anglers can keep unused bait when leaving infested waters if they replace the water with tap or spring water.
• It is also recommended that people spray or rinse boats with high pressure and/or hot water, or let them dry thoroughly for five days before transporting to another body of water.
More information about aquatic invasive species is available on DNR website at www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/index_aquatic.html.
Comments (5)
Add commentand we are all shocked why?
You can stop all boating and fishing, but by mother natures laws you are not going to stop it.
Sooner or later, they will be everywhere.
My opinion, quit trying to stop the spread and start trying to figure out ways to kill each one without killing other species. Not impossible, that I do know.
It's an excellent
financing source for the government and that's the whole thing, no matter what the DNR says. They're violating the Constitution every day with illegal stop and searches. What lake is worth slavery and no rights?
Want a job working the landings?
At $200 a pop for violators, and 4 out of 5 boaters not following the proper procedures, it seems fiscially viable to put people at the landings to check boats going in and out.
You could even pay them a decent wage.
Illegal search
As always, the constitution will be followed when the people stand up and demand it. You do not get your rights or keep them from being violated by asking the government , they must be demanded....
Mother natures laws?
What? You'll have to explain to us which law that is, precisely, that would cause a mussel that is waterbound by nature to travel from one lake to another without our help. Poisoning the lakes is a cheap and probably harmful attempt to attck a symptom instead of addressing the problem, which is what the DNR is attempting to do. Just clean up after yourself and don't drag contaminants from one lake to another. That's not infringing on anyone's rights, it's protecting them, particularly those of the people who own property on those lakes.