07-01-2011, 06:10 PM
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has confirmed zebra mussel veligers were recently found in the southern Red River in the same vicinity where they were discovered last year.
The zebra mussel veliger, a microscopic free-swimming (young) stage, was originally found in a plankton sample taken at Kidder Dam in Wahpeton in June 2010. Sampling efforts conducted twice in the past month found veligers in the area on both occasions. Additional zebra mussel veligers were found in the lower Otter Tail River at Breckenridge, Minn.<br />
The Otter Tail and Bois de Sioux rivers join at Wahpeton-Breckenridge to form the Red River.<br />
Biologists believe the zebra mussels sampled in the Red River originated from Pelican Lake in Minnesota, which is in the Otter Tail River's drainage. Adult zebra mussels were found in Pelican Lake in fall 2009.<br />
Zebra mussels are an aquatic nuisance species introduced into North America and currently found in many states east and south of North Dakota. Adult zebra mussels have not been found in North Dakota or the Red River.<br />
Zebra mussel veligers can float along in river currents for weeks before eventually attaching to hard structures and growing into dime-sized mussels. When established, these invasive mussels reproduce at rapid rates. One female can produce up to a million eggs a season and each egg has the potential to develop into an adult.<br />
Adult mussels attach to hard surfaces such as rocks, submerged trees, bridge abutments, docks and industrial or municipal water intake pipes. When in dense colonies they can block water flow in pipes, causing costly damages annually in the United States.<br />
Zebra mussels can also alter natural ecosystems. They are siphon feeders capable of filtering about one liter of water per day while feeding primarily on plankton. These exotic mussels have the ability to alter the food chain and eventually deplete native flora and/or fauna in the affected water.<br />
Game and Fish staff will continue periodic sampling of the Red River during the open-water season, as well as work with local government entities along the Red to monitor boat docks and other hard structures for the presence of adult zebra mussels.<br />
Zebra mussels, like most aquatic nuisance species, are extremely difficult and costly to eliminate once they are established. The Game and Fish Department reminds water recreationists to abide by laws that are already in place to prevent introduction of ANS into new waters.<br />
Existing ANS regulations include:<br />
"¢ All water must be drained from boats and other watercraft, including livewells, baitwells, bilges and motors before leaving a water body.<br />
"¢ All aquatic vegetation must be removed from boats and construction equipment, personal watercraft, trailers and associated equipment such as fishing poles/lures before leaving a body of water.<br />
"¢ All aquatic vegetation must be removed from bait buckets when leaving the water.<br />
"¢ Live aquatic bait or aquatic vegetation may not be transported into North Dakota. Also, all water must be drained from watercraft prior to entering the state.<br />
Sampling and monitoring for zebra mussels is a cooperative effort with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, and Manitoba Water Stewardship.<br />
More information:<br />
http://gf.nd.gov/fishing/ans-animals.html<br />
http://www.protectyourwaters.net/hitchhi...sel.php<br />
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aqu...index.html
The zebra mussel veliger, a microscopic free-swimming (young) stage, was originally found in a plankton sample taken at Kidder Dam in Wahpeton in June 2010. Sampling efforts conducted twice in the past month found veligers in the area on both occasions. Additional zebra mussel veligers were found in the lower Otter Tail River at Breckenridge, Minn.<br />
The Otter Tail and Bois de Sioux rivers join at Wahpeton-Breckenridge to form the Red River.<br />
Biologists believe the zebra mussels sampled in the Red River originated from Pelican Lake in Minnesota, which is in the Otter Tail River's drainage. Adult zebra mussels were found in Pelican Lake in fall 2009.<br />
Zebra mussels are an aquatic nuisance species introduced into North America and currently found in many states east and south of North Dakota. Adult zebra mussels have not been found in North Dakota or the Red River.<br />
Zebra mussel veligers can float along in river currents for weeks before eventually attaching to hard structures and growing into dime-sized mussels. When established, these invasive mussels reproduce at rapid rates. One female can produce up to a million eggs a season and each egg has the potential to develop into an adult.<br />
Adult mussels attach to hard surfaces such as rocks, submerged trees, bridge abutments, docks and industrial or municipal water intake pipes. When in dense colonies they can block water flow in pipes, causing costly damages annually in the United States.<br />
Zebra mussels can also alter natural ecosystems. They are siphon feeders capable of filtering about one liter of water per day while feeding primarily on plankton. These exotic mussels have the ability to alter the food chain and eventually deplete native flora and/or fauna in the affected water.<br />
Game and Fish staff will continue periodic sampling of the Red River during the open-water season, as well as work with local government entities along the Red to monitor boat docks and other hard structures for the presence of adult zebra mussels.<br />
Zebra mussels, like most aquatic nuisance species, are extremely difficult and costly to eliminate once they are established. The Game and Fish Department reminds water recreationists to abide by laws that are already in place to prevent introduction of ANS into new waters.<br />
Existing ANS regulations include:<br />
"¢ All water must be drained from boats and other watercraft, including livewells, baitwells, bilges and motors before leaving a water body.<br />
"¢ All aquatic vegetation must be removed from boats and construction equipment, personal watercraft, trailers and associated equipment such as fishing poles/lures before leaving a body of water.<br />
"¢ All aquatic vegetation must be removed from bait buckets when leaving the water.<br />
"¢ Live aquatic bait or aquatic vegetation may not be transported into North Dakota. Also, all water must be drained from watercraft prior to entering the state.<br />
Sampling and monitoring for zebra mussels is a cooperative effort with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, and Manitoba Water Stewardship.<br />
More information:<br />
http://gf.nd.gov/fishing/ans-animals.html<br />
http://www.protectyourwaters.net/hitchhi...sel.php<br />
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/aqu...index.html