Minnesota DNR: Zebra mussels found in Meeker County lake

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Tuesday said it has confirmed zebra mussels in Lake Stella in Meeker County, about 90 minutes west of Minneapolis.

A property owner brought a suspected zebra mussel into the DNR's Hutchinson office on July 6, saying it was attached to a native mussel in about three feet of water in Lake Stella.

Officials confirmed it was an adult zebra mussel. A second zebra mussel was later reported and confirmed in a different part of the lake, the DNR said in a statement.

Because of those findings, Lake Stella will be designated as an infested lake and Lake Washington — immediately downstream from Lake Stella — will also be designated, although no zebra mussels have been found there, the agency said.

This appears to be the first discovery of zebra mussels in a Meeker County lake. A check of the DNR's invasive species database found no earlier entries.

More than 200 Minnesota lakes and rivers are now confirmed with zebra mussels, an invasive species that can push out native mussels. They can also cause more algae and weed growth — they filter the lake water, allowing sunlight to penetrate more deeply. They attach to boats, making it easy for them to travel and contaminate other waters.

DNR officials Tuesday again called on the public to protect against zebra mussel contamination by cleaning boats, draining all water and keeping plugs out while transporting boats between lakes and disposing of unwanted bait in the trash.