Invasive zebra mussels found in Saylorville Lake
SAYLORVILLE LAKE, Iowa — An invasive species of mussel has been discovered at Saylorville Lake.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels at the lake. The DNR was initially contacted about the mussels by boaters taking their boats out for the winter. DNR staffers then confirmed there were zebra mussels attached to multiple boats in the Saylorville Marina area.
More monitoring is planned for next summer to determine the extent of the spread of the zebra mussels.
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The DNR says there's no effective treatment to control zebra mussels once they've spread to a lake and with large infestations they can disrupt the food chain, which causes the death of native mussels.
"The zebra mussels probably arrived on or in a boat that had picked them up from an infested water body," said Kim Bogenschutz, the DNR's Aquatic Invasive Species Program coordinator.
Zebra mussels have been found in 18 Iowa lakes and nine rivers, according to the Iowa DNR.
"Young zebra mussels are microscopic and can be unintentionally transported with water in live wells, bilges, ballast or bait buckets," Bogenschutz said. "That's why draining all water is a critical step in preventing the spread of zebra mussels."
The adult organisms are small, D-shaped clams and get their name from their alternating light and dark bands. They attach to hard underwater surfaces and can form dense clusters.
