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MURRAY COUNTY -- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed a report of zebra mussels in Lake Shetek.
The invasive mussels were found in two different areas of the lake in the past two months, the DNR said in a Monday news release. Lake Shetek is connected downstream by a meandering stream channel to Lake Sarah, where zebra mussels were confirmed in 2018. The DNR is considering which of several other water bodies connected to Lake Shetek might also be listed for zebra mussels, the news release said.
A lake service provider contacted the DNR in September after finding a single zebra mussel attached to a rock in Lake Shetek. No additional zebra mussels were found by the DNR during a follow-up search at that time, the news release said. The lake service provider found a second zebra mussel attached to a boat lift in a different area of the lake in October.
"Based on size, these were mature adult zebra mussels," said DNR Invasive Species Specialist Carli Wagner. Wagner said the DNR is going to expand zebra mussel early detection and monitoring efforts in the area around Lake Shetek, but it's also important for the public to know that zebra mussels are present in the lake.
"Lake property owners and lake service provider businesses play an important role in detecting invasive species, by carefully examining boats, docks and lifts when they are being removed from the water at the end of the season," DNR Invasive Species Unit Supervisor Heidi Wolf said.
Lake property owners should carefully look for invasive species on the posts, wheels and underwater support bars of docks and lifts, as well as any parts of boats, pontoons and rafts that may have been submerged in water for an extended period, the DNR said.
Whether or not a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires people to clean watercraft, trailers and equipment; to drain water-related equipment and leave drain plugs out during transport; and to dry docks, lifts and rafts for 21 days before moving them from one body of water to another.
The DNR also recommends taking additional steps to avoid the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species. Those steps include decontaminating watercraft and equipment, spraying them with high-pressure water or rinsing with very hot water, and letting watercraft and equipment dry for at least five days before using them in a different body of water.
People should contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist if they think they have found zebra mussels or any other invasive species. More information is available on the aquatic invasive species page of the DNR website, www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/ais.