(Wahpeton)– Preliminary indications are the Iowa Great Lakes made it through another season without getting infested by an invasive aquatic species such as Eurasian Watermilfoil or Zebra Mussels.
Phil Petersen of the Okoboji Protective Association and the Iowa Great Lakes Water Safety Council says there were no traces of Zebra Mussels on 27 sampler plates on navigation buoys that were pulled up by the DNR in the past week. He says similar plates in Clear Lake were full of them.
Petersen is still encouraging everyone to closely inspect docks and boat hoists for any sign of the mussels as they are brought out of the water this fall.
Petersen says based on the preliminary findings, they’re confident the stepped up inspections this past summer at boat ramps around the lakes paid off. He says they’ll be assessing the program further at a meeting in the next week or so.
More information on invasive species can be found at the Water Safety Council’s website at www.watersafetycouncil.org.
