Minn. DNR holding open house on zebra mussel infestations

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is holding an open house Tuesday on a growing zebra mussel infestation.

They were first found in Lake Minnetonka in late July.

Invasive species supervisor Luke said zebra mussels can have a devastating impact on a lake's ecology and tourism.

"They are filter feeders so they filter out the base of the food chain," Skinner said. "They actually attach to native mussels and actually smother them and kill them. They can get attached to your boats and motors, clogging your motors and so there can be real problems for equipment."

Skinner said about twenty Minnesota lakes now have zebra mussel infestations and all boaters should take steps to prevent their spread.

"When you pull your boat out you clean it. Make sure there's no visible zebra mussel or aquatic plants, and second is to drain all your water," he said. "There's [a] new law that requires to pull your drain plug and drain all water from your boat. And third is, if you're coming from zebra mussel water, to really dry it."

Skinner said boats should dry for five days in order to ensure that invisible mussel particles have been killed.

Tuesday's meeting is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Southshore Community Center in Shorewood.