Zebra Mussels are on the move in Otter Tail County

Otter Tail County, MN - “I can’t stress it enough how important it is for everyone to do the right thing for the right reason,” said Jeff Stabnow, President of the Otter Tail County Coalition of Lake Associations (OTC COLA).

“Water related equipment that has been in zebra mussel infested waters will likely be heavily contaminated with larval, juvenile and adult mussels,” said Stabnow  “and there are mandatory decontamination procedures for water-related equipment that must be voluntarily followed.” 

Water-related equipment – means a motor vehicle, boat, watercraft, dock, boat lift, raft, vessel, trailer, tool, implement, device, or any other associated equipment or container, including but not limited to portable bait containers, live wells, ballast tanks (except those with a MPCA permit), bilge areas, and water-hauling equipment that is capable of containing or transporting AIS, aquatic macrophytes (plants), or water.

Zebra mussels life span is anywhere from two to five years and can reproduce by their second year.  Each year, a mature female zebra mussel can release more than one million eggs and a mature male zebra mussel can release more than two million sperm.  Fertilization of the eggs takes place in water.  The fertilized eggs develop into free swimming larval zebra mussels in two days and can be transported long distances by water currents.

“Those that live on or near Rose Lake near Vergas have reason to be concerned,” said Stabnow “if the treatment proposed by the DNR is not 100% effective, the zebra mussels may eventually colonize all water bodies downstream from Rose Lake.”

The zebra mussels are now a permanent resident of several lakes in Otter Tail County, including Bass, Crystal, Fish, Little Pelican, Lizzie, Pelican Lake, Pelican River from Fish Lake downstream to Prairie Lake, and Prairie Lake.

“The spread of zebra mussels will touch virtually every resident of the State of MN,” said OTC COLA Vice President Dave Sethre “both financially and ecologically.”

“It is very disappointing,” said Sethre “that zebra mussels has found its way into a new chain of lakes.”

“The COLA will continue to educate people about zebra mussels” said Sethre “and I hope that the quick action of that alert lake resident results in the DNR winning the fight at Rose Lake, something that is hard to do when it involves zebra mussels.”

The OTC COLA is organized to facilitate cooperation among member lake associations and to assist in the fostering of the wise use of lake areas.

Anyone interested in forming, expanding or reorganizing a lake association or joining the OTC COLA should contact the COLA’s Membership Committee Chairman, Steve Johnson, by phone (218) 758-3707 or email sojcjj@arvig.net.