BACKGROUND

The zebra mussel is a small, fingernail-sized mussel first found in Lake St. Clair near Detroit in 1988. This native of the Caspian Sea region in Asia is tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions. To date, they have spread to parts of all the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River, and are showing up in inland lakes. A common problem they present is the clogging of water-intake systems of power plants, water treatment facilities, and the cooling systems of boat engines. Eventually, they may eliminate native mussel species.

One factor in the rapid spread of zebra mussels is the reproductive rate of a female zebra mussel. Spawning generally occurs in the spring and can continue through the summer until fall. Over the course of a year, a female zebra mussel can produce up to one million eggs. These develop into microscopic, free-swimming larvae called veligers that begin to form shells. At about three weeks, they begin to firmly attach themselves to solid objects such as submerged rocks, dock pilings, boat hulls, water intake pipes.

The zebra mussel has become a large concern to the LMCD, with infested water as close as the Mississippi River south of St. Anthony Falls in downtown Minneapolis. The following links are provided for your view of the most recent lists of zebra mussel infested waters issued by the District of Natural Resources for not only Minnesota, but the bordering states of Iowa and Wisconsin:

2008 Minnesota Infested Waters (Including Zebra Mussels)

Iowa Zebra Mussel Infested Waters

Wisconsin Zebra Mussel Infested Waters

For a broad view of Zebra and Quagga Mussel sightings throughout the United States, please view the attached link provided by the U.S. Geological Survey: Zebra and Quagga Mussel Sightings Distribution; 2008

A list of waters which have sustained adult zebra mussel populations is detailed below for the States of Minnesota (4/2003), Wisconsin (11/2002), and Iowa:

With the threat of zebra mussels as close as the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis, the LMCD has taken proactive efforts in recent years to assist in the prevention of introducing zebra mussels into Lake Minnetonka. These efforts include:

• High-Pressure Washer- In 1996, the LMCD purchased a high-pressure washer using "Save the Lake" funds to wash watercraft that were in zebra mussel infested waters and were not completely dry for five days prior to entering Lake Minnetonka. Targeted watercraft included special event participants, the general public, and boats being transported. The focus of the program was voluntary compliance, with the idea of responsible boating.
• Ordinance Amendments- Two ordinance amendments have been adopted by the LMCD Board of Directors. The purpose of these ordinance amendments was to supplement state regulations intended to prevent the spread of harmful exotic species.

  First, LMCD Ordinance 145 was adopted on 1/22/97 addressing all special events on Lake Minnetonka. The LMCD was looking for leadership and cooperation from all special event organizers on Lake Minnetonka. With adoption of the ordinance amendment, special event coordinators areas to identify are to establish a washdown plan with LMCD staff for participating watercraft in special events that do not comply with the ordinance. Specifically, if a watercraft participating in a special event has been in, or will be in zebra mussel infested water 30 days prior to a special event, they must be completely dry for five days prior to the event. If they cannot comply with this requirement, they must be inspected and/or washed by personnel approved by the LMCD before they can participate in the special event. For participating watercraft that comply with the conditions of this ordinance, they must complete and sign an affidavit form stating this.

  Second, the LMCD has encouraged the same leadership and cooperation from the general public for those watercraft that have been in identified zebra mussel infested water. LMCD Ordinance 160 was adopted on 1/13/99, which prohibited a person from introducing zebra mussels into Lake Minnetonka, or to operate a vehicle, watercraft, trailer, or other object which has had affixed or attached any zebra mussels. Prior to entering Lake Minnetonka, any such vehicle, watercraft, trailer, or other object needs to clean all visible or discoverable zebra mussels, and either (1) 15 days have elapsed after such cleaning before it is introduced to Lake Minnetonka, during which time it shall remain dry, or (2) the owner has secured the opinion of a person recognized as qualified by the MN DNR or the LMCD that there are no viable zebra mussels, or any of the life stages thereof, on such vehicle, watercraft, trailer, or other object.

• Public education campaign- For years, the MN DNR has taken a role in educating the public on precautions that need to be taken when traveling from one body of water to another within the State of Minnesota. Some of the methods used by the MN DNR over the years include distribution of educational brochures, public access signage, billboards, television, and radio. Beginning in 1998, the LMCD established additional proactive efforts for Lake Minnetonka.

  In 1998, a pamphlet called "Help Stop the Invasion of Zebra Mussels in Lake Minnetonka" was created working with Hillis Mackey Interactive. This educational pamphlet overviewed the LMCD's zebra mussel program, and is available at a wide variety of places; including commercial marina facilities around Lake Minnetonka, the 14 Lake Minnetonka member communities, the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Water Patrol.

  A public education campaign was launched by the LMCD in 1999 and 2000, working closely with Carmichael Lynch. This campaign included billboard signage, at selected locations, and zebra mussel posters that were forwarded to similar locations, as were the zebra mussel pamphlets in 1998.

• The Lake Minnetonka Conservation District has worked directly with the LMCD member cities to provide an educational power point presentation on Zebra Mussels. This was created so that the member cities can provide Zebra Mussel containment techniques in mailings to their citizens. It also encourages citizens, businesses and civic organizations to donate to the Save the Lake Fund so that additional steps can be taken.

• Starting in 2002, the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District has contracted with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to conduct inspections of watercraft for possible transportation of zebra mussels from infested waters. For the 2004 season, inspections were held from May 15th through September 19th on peak days, during peak times, at five selected public accesses (Grays Bay, Wayzata Bay, Maxwell Bay, North Arm and Spring Park). Peak days included Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Peak times during these days included 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Fridays and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Plans for the 2005 season are on-going.

• "Zebra Mussels and Lake Minnetonka" is an educational television program funded by the LMCD and Freshwater Society and co-produced by the Freshwater Society and Twin Cities Public Television. The program explains the Zebra Mussel threat facing Lake Minnetonka and other bodies of water throughout the State of Minnesota. Its first airing was held on Sunday, August 22, 2004 on PBS, Channel 17 (or associated PBS channel). Future airings will be arranged and announced via public announcements.