Zebra mussels found in Bluebill Lake

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently found zebra mussels on a sampler in Bluebill Lake. The sampler was placed in the lake specifically to monitor for zebra mussels because of the lake?s proximity to Clear Lake, which has had zebra mussels since 2005. Bluebill Lake is a 40-acre lake located four miles south of Clear Lake.

Bluebill Lake is the state?s fourth interior lake confirmed to have zebra mussels. Clear Lake, Lake Delhi and Rathbun Lake are the others.

Zebra mussels are filter feeders that attach to underwater surfaces. They can interfere with aquatic food chains, kill native mussels and clog water intakes. There is no getting rid of zebra mussels once they are in a lake or river.

DNR biologists plan to continue monitoring Bluebill Lake to determine the abundance and distribution of zebra mussels. Divers will be used to search underwater surfaces in August.

Young zebra mussels are microscopic and can be unintentionally transported with water in bilges, live wells, or bait buckets. Adult zebra mussels can attach to boats, trailers and aquatic vegetation.

?Boaters and anglers can unintentionally spread zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species if they do not take the proper precautions ? clean, drain, dry ? after each time out on the water,? said said Kim Bogenschutz, the DNR?s aquatic invasive species program coordinator.

It is illegal to possess or transport prohibited aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels in Iowa. The fine for violating this law is $500.