Zebra Mussels Found in Wright County Lake

(KNSI) – Zebra mussels have been found in Lake Pulaski in Wright County. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says a lake service provider found a dead mussel on equipment installed on a lake property for the season. Commercial divers went into the Buffalo area lake and found a live adult zebra mussel in the same area.

Officials say zebra mussels compete with native species for food and habitat, cut swimmers’ feet, reduce the performance of boat motors, and cause expensive damage to water intake pipes.

DNR staff will work with the lake improvement district on the next steps for the lake. Officials remind boaters and lake property owners to check boats, trailers, docks, lifts and other water-related equipment for invasive species when putting them in and pulling them out of the water.

Minnesota law requires docks and lifts to stay out of the water for at least 21 days after removal from a waterbody before being placed in another lake.

Whether or not a lake is listed for any invasive species, Minnesota law requires boaters and anglers to:

Clean watercraft and trailers of aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.

Drain all water by removing drain plugs and keeping them out during transport.

Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.

More information is available on the Aquatic Invasive Species page of the DNR website.

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