Zebra Mussels Found in Sherburne County’s Eagle Lake

(KNSI) — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in Sherburne County’s Eagle Lake.

According to a press release from the DNR, a dead zebra mussel was found at the public water access in 2021, but no live ones were found at that time. Continuous monitoring was done by conducting shoreline searches and water sampling for larvae and last week, an invasive species specialist found live adult and juvenile zebra mussels attached to the wheel of the public access dock as it was being removed for the season.

The DNR reminds people to carefully check boats and trailers, docks and lifts, and all other water-related equipment for invasive species when removing equipment for seasonal storage. State law requires docks and boats to remain out of the water for at least 21 days before putting them into another body of water. Regardless of whether a lake contains invasive species, boaters must clean watercraft, trailers, and equipment to remove aquatic plants and invasive species. Drain all live wells, remove drain plugs during transport, and dispose of unused bait in the trash. Watercraft and equipment must dry for at least five days before using them elsewhere.

Boaters and jet skiers must decontaminate their watercraft once it is pulled out. The DNR’s website has lakes and launches with equipment-free decontamination stations; click here to find them.

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