We need Your Individual Help! [The 3rd of 3 Posts]

What can you and your family do to help locate and stop the spread of Zebra Mussels?

Please take these steps every time you leave a lake or river - whether or not it's

infested - before launching into another body of water. 


• Clean all aquatic plants, zebra mussels, and other invasive species from boats, trailers, and water-related equipment.
•  Drain water from your boat, ballast tanks, motor, live well and bait container. Remove drain plugs and keep drain plugs out while transporting equipment.
• Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash. To keep live bait, drain the water and refill the bait container with bottled or tap water.
• Dry for at least 5 days or  If you can, also wash with a hot water high pressure washer. Best practice is the use of a decontamination station.

On Long Lake we have a free hot water decontamination station located near the transfer station on County Road 6. Call ahead for your appointment, available 7 days a week: 218 252 6738.   Find more details at on our "Protect Our Lake" page found in the tabs above or by clicking here:  https://www.longlakeliving.org/p/protect-our-lake.html
 
The association has contacted resorts, campgrounds, fishing clubs, lake service providers, Hubbard County, Henrietta and Hubbard townships, and has updated our kiosks at the north and south accesses.  We need your help by talking to your neighbors who might not see information from the Association about stopping the spread of AIS.  Also, it would be good to give this information to all your family and friends who come to visit.  Make sure they decontaminate their equipment before launching and after leaving the lake. Remember the area decontamination station is free.  Information can be found by clicking on the "Decontamination Station" tab above or following this link:  https://www.longlakeliving.org/p/blog-page_6.html

If you have questions call or text our certified AIS detectors, Sharon Natzel  at 763-355-7908 or Jim Blodgett at 651-395-9317.  Remember that lakeshore owners are not liable if a zebra mussel is found on their equipment.

We need Your Individual Help! [The 2nd of 3 Posts]

What does it mean to live with Zebra Mussels?

Every infested lake has a different experience with zebra mussels.

Zebra mussels can:

• clog irrigation intakes and other pipes
• attach to boat motors and boat hulls, reducing performance and efficiency 
• attach to rocks, swim rafts and ladders where swimmers can cut their feet on the  mussel shells 
• attach to and smother native mussels 
• eat tiny food particles that they filter out of the water, which can reduce available food for larval fish and other animals

Even though the water clarity can improve, that is not always desirable for the habitat.

Things to do now and as you close up for the season.

1. Check your docks (behind the wheels too), boat lifts, shoreline, rocks, sticks, native clams, ropes on rafts, or any hard place in the water that is in the shadows most of the day.  When you find them call or text our certified AIS detectors, Sharon Natzel  at 763-355-7908 or Jim Blodgett at 651-395-9317.  Remember that owners are not liable if a zebra mussel is found on their equipment.
2. Make sure your boats are on lifts or at least lift the lower unit of the mot

   
   

   
   

   or to keep zebra mussels from getting established in the motors.
3. Wear water shoes when swimming to protect your feet.  Zebra Mussels are very sharp.
4. Check shallow areas for native clams.  Make a note of how many you find.  Then next year check the same area.  How many clams are still there?  Zebra Mussels colonize on native clams to take advantage of their food intake.

Reference Articles for more information:

✔️ Green Lake:  Zebra Mussel Impact on Green Lake Becoming Clear

 
✔️ A recent article in the Duluth News Tribune: 
Zebra mussel fears mellow for some as prevention efforts slow spread

 
✔️ University of Minnesota Zebra Mussel Research Center (MAISRC):
U of M Zebra Mussel Key Findings, Accomplishments, and Ongoing Research

 
✔️ Pelican Lake (infested in 2009 with zebra mussels) has a variety of articles concerning Zebra Mussels on their website:  https://www.pelicanlakemn.org/education.html

We need Your Individual Help! [The 1st of 3 posts]

On July 23rd, the DNR confirmed that 3 live adult  Zebra Mussels were found at the south access on Long Lake. The Long Lake Area Association (LLAA)  immediately sent information to all lake shore owners.  At this point the LLAA Board is continuing to consult with personnel from the DNR, RMB Environment Laboratories, (which analyze our water testing), and other experts.

The board has an action plan to help guide our decisions going forward.  The first part of the action plan is to measure the extent of the problem (with the help of lake shore owners) and to communicate with the public.  We need everyone to help us locate where the Zebra Mussels are on Long Lake.

As a part of the communication plan, we will be posting 3 blogs to answer key questions. 

First Question:  What does a zebra mussel look like?

Appearance:  
The zebra mussel is a small shellfish named for the striped pattern of its shell. Color patterns can vary to the point of having only dark or light colored shells and no stripes. It is typically found attached to objects, surfaces, or other mussels by threads extending from underneath the shells. When placed on a surface zebra mussels are stable on their flattened underside.
For more information about Zebra Mussels: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aquaticanimals/zebramussel/index.html

Learn to ID Zebra Mussels
https://www.longlakeliving.org/p/ais-identification.html   This page should  be viewable on your phone to use when you are on the lake.  If you find a zebra mussel attached to vegetation, take a picture, note the location.  If you can use the GPS on your phone; otherwise take a picture of the nearest cabin or dock.  Call or text our certified AIS detectors, Sharon Natzel  at 763-355-7908 or Jim Blodgett at 651-395-9317.  Remember that owners are not liable if a zebra mussel is found on their equipment.

MN DNR Zebra Mussel pdf

PS: Remember we need your help.
Please read our next two posts as they become available.