What’s in the Water? – Watch for Zebra Mussels

At the close of season last year, there was a reported spotting of a zebra mussel (pictured top center) attached to a dock or item pulled from the lake.

We have not been made aware of any other reports since that time. Nonetheless, we wanted to alert our residents to inspect your docks and other equipment as or after you have removed it for the season.

Currently there is no reason to believe that Miner Lake has an issue with these zebra mussels, but it is always important to monitor the lake and report anything strange.

Steps you can take to prevent the introduction of invasive species such as zebra mussels include:

 

 

• Check your boat, motor, live wells, and boat trailer for hitch-hiking mussels.
• Always drain bilges, live wells and motor wells before leaving mussel – infested waters.
• Boats and trailers should dry in the sun for at least two to four days before being transported from infested to uninfested waters.
• Flush your engine with uncontaminated water to remove mussel larvae.
• Inspect bait buckets and containers for tiny mussels and rinse these with uncontaminated, very hot water.
• Because of the possibility of contamination, leftover bait should not be transported from infested to uninfested waters.