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Judge dismisses lake groups' zebra mussels lawsuit

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Apr 13, 2012 at 1:02 pm

CHASKA, Minn. (AP) — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit by several lake associations alleging the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources didn't do enough to stop the spread of zebra mussels.

Property owners along Lotus Lake, Lake Bavaria, Christmas Lake and Lake Minnewashta had asked for mandatory inspections to prevent the invasive mussels from being carried on boats, trailers and bilge water into their lakes.

But the Star Tribune reports Judge Philip Kanning ruled the associations did not meet the high burden necessary to begin centralized inspections proposed for Lake Minnewashta Regional Park.

A spokesman for the associations says they are disappointed and are considering their next steps.

DNR officials contended they don't have legal authority to require boaters to travel to an off-lake inspection site before they use public boat launches elsewhere.