DNR scrambling to make sure invasive mussel does not spread

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (WDAY TV) - The Pelican River in Ottertail County is now listed as infested waters, contaminated with zebra mussels. The DNR is now scrambling to make sure the invasive species doesn't spread. WDAY 6 Reporter Chrsitina Vaughn has our story.

“I guess I'm really surprised that it's this close already.”

Jesse Frolek's been out on Pelican a handful of times this summer, for the Muskie fishing and an uninvited guest has made its way among the anglers, but people like Frolek say they're not too worried about the problem, yet.

“Check out your bunks, check your bunk rails and everything else when you get off.”

But invasive species specialist Nathan Olson says Frolek, and other fishermen should be worried. Pelican Lake feeds into many different bodies of water, and is the basin to the Red River, which means this could potentially become an international problem and once the mussels get in, there's no way to get them out.

“The only thing we can really focus on now is enforcement to ensure that people aren't moving these zebra mussels from Pelican Lake to other lakes in the area.”

People should start noticing a difference in Pelican's water, Olson says it's going to get a lot clearer. Each zebra muscle filters about a quart of water each day, taking out the algae and small plant particles, food for zooplankton.

“And if the zooplanktons don’t have enough food that means that there's less zooplankton in the water, and zooplankton is one of the primary food items for almost all small fish, no matter what they are.”

Olson says this problem can seriously affect whole ecosystems, which is why the DNR is working so hard to contain the mussels here.

“If we can keep Detroit Lakes, 5 years, 10 years zebra mussel free, then it's more likely that we're going to come up with some way to at least reduce their ability to reproduce.”

DNR officers are going to step up enforcement, double checking boats for zebra mussels, so people don't spread them anymore than they already have been. The DNR expects increased plant growth in the lake. Clearer water also makes it harder to catch fish.