(Wahpeton)– Officials say they won’t know for sure for several weeks, but as of right now it appears the Iowa Great Lakes made it through another season without being infested by any sort of aquatic invasive species such as Eurasian watermilfoil or zebra mussels.
Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say there were no signs of zebra mussels on any of the sampler plates below navigational buoys which were recently removed for the season.
Officials say they’ll have a better determination once docks, swim ladders and boat hoists are removed in coming weeks. They’re asking anyone removing such items to check them over for any possible signs of zebra mussels. Anyone who thinks they may have spotted one should call the Fish Hatchery at 336-1840.
Zebra mussels have been found as close to the Iowa Great Lakes as Clear Lake and watermilfoil has been discovered on a pond near Paullina in O’Brien county. Numerous lakes in Minnesota are infested either with zebra mussels or watermilfoil.
