Invasive zebra mussels have been confirmed in DeMontroville and Olson Lakes in Lake Elmo and in Long Lake in Pine Springs, located in the northeast corner of Interstate 694 and Minnesota Highway 36.
Officials with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said Monday that a contracted surveyor in October observed adult zebra mussels during a lake-bottom sediment survey in Long Lake. Recent follow-up water sampling detected zebra mussel larvae, called veligers, in Long Lake and DeMontreville and Olson Lakes, officials said.
State law requires boaters, anglers and waterfront property owners to take a variety of actions to prevent the spread of zebra mussels, regardless of whether a lake has an infestation, according to the DNR.
People should contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist if they believe they have found zebra mussels or any other invasive species not already known to be in the water body.
Zebra mussels can compete with native species for food and habitat, cut the feet of swimmers, reduce the performance of boat motors and damage water-intake pipes.
More information is available at dnr.state.mn.us/ais.
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