'Musseling' in on Lake Mille Lacs

by Rob Passons, Messenger Staff Writer

"We found way more zebra mussels than we expected," said Tom Jones, large lake specialist for the DNR. "We expected to see 300 to 400 per square foot."

Jones and his crew counted zebra mussels on the north and west sides of Mille Lacs Lake on Aug. 9, and did more surveys on the south and east sides on Aug. 12. 

Jones, with the help of DNR Invasive Species Coordinator Rich Rezanka and Assistant Regional Fisheries Manager Joe Mix, scuba dived on Reddy Creek, Garrison Reef, Knox Reef and Brown's Point on Aug. 9. On Garrison Reef they found 1,540 zebra mussels per square foot. "Last year we found 11 per square foot there, so there's about 150 times more." 

Reddy Creek had the lowest numbers of zebra mussels with 82 per square foot. "The Chinese mystery snails were doing a pretty good job of policing themselves there last year," Jones said. "This year they were covered with zebra mussels."

The average rate of infestation from the four areas on the north and west side was 996 per square foot. According to Jones, that average would likely go up as the crew moved to the east and south side of the lake. "When we get to the higher density areas that number is likely to double," Jones said. "We expect Flamingo Reef and 3-mile to have the worst infestations and the average could go up to 2,000 a square foot."

In 2010, the average was 7.5 per square foot. 

"The two native mussels (fat muckets and giant floaters) will be significantly reduced in numbers if they aren't killed off entirely," Jones said. "We're also concerned about the zebra mussels growing over the mayfly habitats."

Water clarity tests indicate that the lake is undergoing significant changes. "We checked clarity on Aug. 10 in rough weather and we could see 11 feet," Jones said. "The clarity this time last year was 6 feet."

According to Jones, smallmouth bass and sunfish would likely thrive in the warmer, clearer water. "We're not really sure what the walleye and the pike are going to do," he said. "The walleyes might have to move a little deeper, but we're not sure."

Jones said the impact on beaches will be minimal until the shells from dead mussels start washing up. Ice kills mussels that perch in less than 30 inches of water, so the shallows near the shore are likely to stay fairly clear. "And zebra mussels like shade, and beaches don't offer much shade," Jones said. "They will latch on to docks, though."

Moving water supplies zebra mussels with constant flow of food, which is bad news for area businesses and residents who draw water from Mille Lacs Lake. Intake pipes are perfect for zebra mussels. They pack into the pipes until they are completely clogged. "If those places aren't in trouble yet, they probably will be by the end of the summer," Jones said. 

It's difficult to predict the long-term effects of zebra mussels in Mille Lacs Lake, even for a large lake specialist. "The good news is they haven't collapsed anything yet," Jones said. "Ecologically, as long as there is zooplankton, the zebra mussels won't collapse the fishery from the bottom up."

Water Quality, Spring 2011

It should be another great summer. The water clarity readings from last year held in the same good range as those seen in the last couple of years and there didn't seem to be any major algae outbreaks in the main lake last year. Let me know if you see something different in your part of the lake. However, it does often seem that when new folks move onto the lake from the city they tend to bring their city habits of manicured and fertilized lawns with them. Of course, these are the things that ruin the water quality for everyone; so if you could give them a heads up when you meet them that a shoreline needs special consideration that would be great. Of course, we have some holdouts that can't get past their compulsion for a "neat" lawn, but hopefully at some point they will get on board. Remember to use the first 10 feet back from the shore to protect the lake.

The south bay or Little Cedar is still an area of some concern. Our goal remains to get the water quality in the south bay up to the levels seen in the main lake but this has proven difficult. To reduce the elevated nutrients entering from the two main creeks that feed into Cedar, particularly during high rain events, a total water shed approach is needed that only the DNR can provide. In this regard, Tom Miller is currently providing the DNR with water quality information on these two streams with the hope that the DNR will generate an improvement plan for the whole watershed. In the interim, cabin owners in this bay need to be particularly vigilant on maintaining their shorelines and septic systems.

For the last two years, we have been trying to be sure everyone using the public access is aware of the problems with Eurasian milfoil, zebra mussels and other invasive species. It is disconcerting to see the high number of boats coming directly from Lake Mille Lacs to Cedar Lake. For the most part these are muskie fishermen who get blown off the big lake. To be fair, these folks seem to be doing a good job of cleaning up before switching lakes, but it only takes one person in a hurry to give us problems. Having people at the access lets everyone see our concerns, and hopefully will encourage that guy in a hurry to just take the extra minute to pull live well plugs and hose things off. Unfortunately, we still have way too few volunteers to get the job done. It's easy to be a volunteer. This is not a "cop" job. It's mostly talking to really nice people about how fishing is on the lake, where their boat has been, and asking if they are aware what they can do to reduce the risk of transporting trouble. We try to partner "newbies" with old hands. Cedar Lake needs you. If you can spend a few hours at the access any time let us know. We'll get you started.

See you at the Annual Picnic at Menge's Placid Bay Farm on the 4th of July.

_____________________________________________________________________________

When having a gathering at your home, instead of maxing out your septic by doing all the extra washing.  Why not take the washing to the Laundromat and for pennies per pound they will wash, dry and fold the items for you.

News releases from the past:
Notes from the President 2006
Notes from the President 2007
Steeling on Cedar 2007
Notes from the President 2008

Other Items of Interest:

Executive Summary of the Lake Survey, 2005

Cedar Lake Conservancy Work Plan 2006-2007

Volunteer Manual