Aquatic Invasive Species - Clean In Clean Out

Zebra mussels and quagga mussels attach to native mussels, plants, and watercraft. They cut the feet of swimmers and dogs, clog water intakes and damage ecosystems by reducing food for young fish. Their microscopic larvae can be moved in bait buckets, live wells and other boat areas if not drained. Adult mussels attached inside equipment like docks and lifts can survive for days out of water, therefore, Minnesota law requires docks, lifts and similar equipment to dry for 21 days before the equipment can be placed into a different water body.

Spiny waterfleas can be a problem for anglers because they form gelatinous globs on fishing lines, lures and downrigger cables. They also eat small animals that are an important food source for native fish. It is important to remove spiny waterfleas from all equipment because their eggs can live out of water for more than 12 hours under typical summer conditions. To make sure these eggs are dead, thoroughly dry all equipment for 24 hours before reuse.

Faucet snails carry parasites that can infect waterfowl. When waterfowl eat infected snails the parasites can attack the bird’s internal organs, eventually causing death.

Eurasian watermilfoil causes problems in lakes by displacing native plants and producing extensive mats on the surface, especially in clear waters less than 15 feet deep. It is spread from one lake to another when even small plant fragments attach to boat trailers and other water-related equipment.

Curly-leaf pondweed can form dense mats that interfere with boating and other water recreation. When it dies back mid-summer, mats of dead plants can pile up on shorelines and cause algae blooms. It also can displace native aquatic plants, disrupting an entire lake.

Silver and bighead carp natives of Asia, threaten our aquatic ecosystems and water recreation. Silver carp (top) can jump out of the water, injuring boaters and waterskiers. Bighead carp eat huge amounts of plankton and can out-compete native species and disrupt the food chain. Because young carp look similar to some native minnows, they can be spread by releasing live bait back into our waters.