Dylan33 Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 I'm sure this has been referenced here before, but I came across this today and thought I'd share. The state of Virginia was able to eradicate zeebs in a small lake a few years back. Why wouldn't that works here? Why not make this more widespread?I'm not fisheries or environmental expert, so I guess I'm wondering what some of you people smarter than me think?http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/zebramussels/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpecialK Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 I am not sure but I think that treatment would kill all of the mussels and clams in the water body. Not a biologist tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BartmanMN Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Interesting read. Thanks for posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott K Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 I also think it would cost a ton of money to treat larger lakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistermojo Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Sounds good to me - other than trying to do 100,000+ acres of lake Mille Lacs. I'm guessing the Millbrook quarry is not too big. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riverratpete Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Thanks, interesting read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goblueM Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Well I'm not an expert at toxicology or anything, but a few things come to mind:They weren't worrying about native mussels or crustaceans, one would think a potassium concentration high enough to kill zebra mussels would also kill native ones. In non-quarry situations, when there is a much more complex ecosystem, there is going to be a lot of collateral damage. And one would think that 100% effectiveness is not feasible in a large body of water, which means that it'd be prone to another breakout of zebra musselsWe're also talking about a 12-acre body of water, and it cost them 350K to do it. Extrapolating those numbers out and you're talking about 30 million dollars to apply the same thing to Prior Lake, for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mainbutter Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 michigan state has some cool research programs that seem to be gaining momentum for fighting zebes too, but I don't know much about it. Gull Lake near battle creek has a neat research station. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riverratpete Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 State of the lake: Aquatic Invasive Species in Lake Huron Interesting read/study..the bottom line is that the lake/fisheries rebound from invasive species. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TruthWalleyes Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Spend the 30 million. Will probably save us money in the grand scheme considering the futile efforts and expenses we're throwing at it today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott K Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 They should have just stuck with the sticker idea. I think that would have worked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itchmesir Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 Let's just hire Russell Crowe to fight them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EJ_Mac Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 Just convince people that they're a delicacy. That's what they did several years ago with the Patagonian toothfish in the South Atlantic. It was essentially an ugly, by-catch fish that no one wanted and which couldn't compete with the salmon and swordfish in the commercial market. They renamed them "Chilean Sea Bass" and fancy restaurants in NY and LA couldn't get enough - to the point where the population was threataned and the fishing of them has to now be highly-regulated. Zebra-mussel soup, maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goblueM Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 Spend the 30 million. Will probably save us money in the grand scheme considering the futile efforts and expenses we're throwing at it today. Gonna do that for every infested lake? Every ten years or so? Where are we going to come up with half a billion dollars? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TruthWalleyes Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 Gonna do that for every infested lake? Every ten years or so? Where are we going to come up with half a billion dollars? Exactly! We object to Half Billion eradication method because it would come in the form of 1 big bill every ?10 years. I think eventually we will ramp up to a half billion a year in enforcement and silly preventative measures also...The number of bills are in the thousands, just the individual quanties are less...and nothing is stopped. So they may appear to be cheap preventative methods, but their total cost is likely the same as an actual eradication method. MilfOil in Minnetonka 1987...Trying to prevent the spread in 2012 How much money do you think we've spend thus far? BTW...I totally agree with you, my comment was completely tongue in cheek. I would not support use of chemicals to erradicate the invasive species...There is no way it would do less harm than the zebra mussels themselves. When did the first zebra mussel arrive in MN? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott K Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 We just need to accept and love our new lake friends. Then life can be simple again. CO's can go about their days checking licenses, limits, and educating the younger generations. Instead of starting a war with the cute little sea shells. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonicrunch Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 We just need to accept and love our new lake friends. Then life can be simple again. CO's can go about their days checking licenses, limits, and educating the younger generations. Instead of starting a war with the cute little sea shells. agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainMusky Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 There was a blue green algae that was dead and sterile that has been found to kill zebras. The algae had been tested with other "natural" algaes and it didnt seem to adversely affect them, but had a devastating affect on the zebra mussels. I do not recall what impact if any it had on native mussels though.The key thing is every time they try to introduce another non-native to kill a non-native it isnt good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pondhopper Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 There's promising zebra mussel control research in progress involving a type of soil bacteria called Pseudomonas fluorescens. In trials it has killed greater than 90% of zebra mussels. It has also been tested on a number of other species without causing any significant death. This describes a current study on this bacteria (Minnesota DNR looks to be playing role, which is encouraging) : http://cida.usgs.gov/glri/projects/invasive_species/zm_control.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainMusky Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 There's promising zebra mussel control research in progress involving a type of soil bacteria called Pseudomonas fluorescens. In trials it has killed greater than 90% of zebra mussels. It has also been tested on a number of other species without causing any significant death. This describes a current study on this bacteria (Minnesota DNR looks to be playing role, which is encouraging) : http://cida.usgs.gov/glri/projects/invasive_species/zm_control.html By other species do you mean native mussels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BartmanMN Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 I stayed on lake Carlos the last couple days and the DNR is doing a huge study on the Zebra mussels there right now. They had a large trailer set up with tanks inside and they are pumping things from the lake. I never did make it over to discuss further with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue_healer_guy Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Mother nature will win and always win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pikerliker Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I stayed on lake Carlos the last couple days and the DNR is doing a huge study on the Zebra mussels there right now. They had a large trailer set up with tanks inside and they are pumping things from the lake. I never did make it over to discuss further with them. I just read an article on this exact thing. It's some type of "food" that they put in the water and the zebe's eat them and die. Hopefully a slow agonizing death. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnxs54 Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Hi all,I'm new to this forum. I read this thread with interest. I talked to a little DNR girl at Gull about these things, but she didn't really know much. Maybe someone here knows. I'm trying to find out if Zebras have done any damage or caused any harm so far in Minnesota to our fisheries. I know they cleaned up Lake Erie and restored it as a world class Walleye and Smallmouth lake, but I'm still trying to find out what bad effect they've had on Minnesota fishing.Thanks and enjoy the weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TruthWalleyes Posted August 20, 2012 Share Posted August 20, 2012 Hi all,I'm new to this forum. I read this thread with interest. I talked to a little DNR girl at Gull about these things, but she didn't really know much. Maybe someone here knows. I'm trying to find out if Zebras have done any damage or caused any harm so far in Minnesota to our fisheries. I know they cleaned up Lake Erie and restored it as a world class Walleye and Smallmouth lake, but I'm still trying to find out what bad effect they've had on Minnesota fishing.Thanks and enjoy the weekend. LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now ↓↓↓ or ask your question and then register. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.