Invasive zebra mussels have been confirmed in Big Carnelian Lake in northern Washington County.

Officials with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recently received a report of a zebra mussel attached to riprap on the lake’s shoreline. A crew from the DNR, along with staff from the Washington Conservation District and Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District, conducted a search of the lake and found adult zebra mussels at the all sites they searched. They also found zebra mussel larvae, called veligers, in water samples that were taken at the lake.

State law requires boaters, anglers and waterfront property owners to take a variety of actions to prevent the spread of zebra mussels, regardless of whether a lake has an infestation, according to the DNR.

People should contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist if they believe they have found zebra mussels or any other invasive species not already known to be in the water body.

Zebra mussels can compete with native species for food and habitat, cut the feet of swimmers, reduce the performance of boat motors and damage water-intake pipes.

More information is available at mndnr.gov/zebramussels.

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