Zebra mussels confirmed in Cass Lake

Zebra mussels continue their move into more Minnesota lakes, with the Department of Natural Resources confirming on Friday the discovery of the invasive species in Cass Lake.
The DNR said a citizen discovered the zebra mussels earlier in the week while collecting shells on the beach on the southeast corner of Cedar Island. The area is a popular beach where people park their watercraft to swim and fish.
Three dead zebra mussels of varying sizes were collected. The samples were given to a DNR creel clerk who submitted them to the DNR area fisheries office in Bemidji, where they were verified to be zebra mussels.
DNR staff conducted their own search and found zebra mussels in a variety of sizes.
Cass Lake is located north of U.S. Highway 2 about 15 miles east of Bemidji.
Cass Lake now will be designated as infested with zebra mussels. The portion of the Mississippi River between Cass Lake and Lake Winnibigoshish also will be designated as zebra mussel waters in the wake of the latest discovery. Lake Winnibigoshish was designated as infested with zebra mussels in 2013.
Buck Lake, Andrusia Lake, Wolf Lake, Pike Bay, Pug Hole Lake, Kitchi Lake, Little Rice Lake and Big Rice Lake and their respective connecting rivers also will be designated as infested with zebra mussels. While no zebra mussels have been found in those lakes, they are heavily used by boaters traveling from Cass Lake.
The DNR reminds boaters and anglers that state law requires them to make sure no water or invasive species remains in or on their boat when they leave any lake or river. It’s believed the mussels are being moved from one lake to another by recreational boaters.