An alliance of conscientious
lake users
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Cass-Crow Wing Counties
Minnesota
Watch
this page for the latest information on the
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2010 Summary Report of Watercraft Inspection Results at Gull Lake Click here to read the PDF file detailing the results of the 2010 inspections.
Click here to see a map from the USGS showing how zebra mussels have
advanced over the years.
Zebra mussels
found in Gull Lake
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
biologists have confirmed a report that zebra mussels are now in Gull Lake near
Brainerd.
A Brainerd area dock removal service discovered
the zebra mussels attached to a boat lift pulled from the lake and reported its
findings to the DNR. The DNR surveyed additional docks and boat lifts recently
removed from the lake and found zebra mussels attached to several boat lifts and
to some aquatic vegetation.
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"It's not localized. It has spread," Swanson said of the mussels. "They're very small ... the young of the year. You've got to search to find them. And their numbers aren't real high yet. But they've been in there for sure for a year. The adults are out there reproducing.
"It's infested - Gull Lake is infested with zebra mussels."
It marks the second time in four months that zebra mussels have been discovered in a popular Minnesota lake. In July, the DNR found them in Lake Minnetonka.
"I thought it would be coming," Swanson said of zebra mussels in Gull. "But I thought it would be later than sooner. But this is what happened. I was just hoping it would be a lot later."
As did Gary Montz, a DNR research scientist based in St. Paul.
"Whenever zebra mussels show up it's kind of surprising," Montz said. "And there's been a lot of help and good work from the boating and recreation public in checking boats (on Gull). They found them on Lake Ossawinnamakee (in Crow Wing County) in 2003, but nothing since. It's surprising because they (Brainerd area lakes) had gone so long without anything."
In response to the infestation, the DNR will designate Gull Lake as infested waters, which prohibits the transport of water and requires draining of all water including bait containers and also prohibits harvest of bait; will place new signs at water accesses on Gull to indicate the presence of zebra mussels; will increase enforcement and watercraft inspection efforts; and will inform residents and businesses of what they can do to help prevent the spread of zebra mussels.
"The conservation officers have already been contacted and are monitoring the accesses," Swanson said. "And at the accesses, if they're not posted today (Wednesday), they'll probably be posted with orange invasive species signs (Thursday)."
Prior to the discovery, the DNR worked with the Gull Chain of Lakes Association and others in the Brainerd area to inspect boats and educate lake users in an effort to prevent the spread of invasive species into Gull Lake and other Brainerd area lakes.
"I think they're doing a good job on prevention out there," Swanson said of the Gull Chain of Lakes Association. "They're an active lake association. But it happened anyway, which is unfortunate."
A nonnative invasive species, zebra mussels pose serious ecological and economic threats to Minnesota's lakes and streams, according to the DNR. Heavy infestations can impact vegetation, habitat and, ultimately, fish populations and interfere with recreation. Native to Eastern Europe and Western Russia, zebra mussels were first discovered in Minnesota in 1989 in the Duluth harbor. They have spread to 30 inland lakes including Gull, Lake Minnetonka, Mille Lacs, Prior and Le Homme Dieu and to portions of the Mississippi, St. Croix and Zumbro rivers.
"No one wanted these invasive species in their lakes. Prevention is their goal," Swanson said. "But eradication is not in the dictionary for invasive species. It's hard to predict what will happen. They (zebra mussels) react differently in different lakes."
Said Montz: "How fast they build up populations is hard to predict. In Lake Ossawinnamakee in 2003, it took a few years before it was noticeable by lakeshore residents. They were found in Prior Lake last summer, and this year we're getting calls from residents that they have lots of them. It depends on the individual lake and it's not possible to predict."
Boaters and anglers should continue to take extra precautions when using Gull as zebra mussels could pose risks for other waters, the DNR said. Boaters are required by law to remove aquatic plants and zebra mussels from boats and trailers; drain all water, including pulling the drain plug, opening water draining devises and draining bilges and live wells; and drain bait buckets when exiting lakes that have been designated as infested with spiny water fleas or zebra mussels. Anglers may keep unused bait when leaving infested waters if they replace the water with tap or spring water. It is also recommended that lake users spray or rinse boats with high pressure and/or hot water or let them dry thoroughly for five days before transporting to another body of water, the DNR said.
The DNR will continue to survey docks and boat lifts being removed for the season on Gull, as well as survey portions of the lake this week. Anyone who finds zebra mussels in the lake should contact the DNR.
BRIAN S. PETERSON may be reached at brian.peterson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5864. To follow him on Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/brian_speterson.
Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha)
Click here to read all about Zebra mussels on the Minnesota DNR website.