ITASCA COUNTY — The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in three lakes in Itasca County.
The lakes are Jessie Lake near Talmoon, Turtle Lake near Marcell and Trout Lake near Coleraine.
A resort owner on Jessie Lake found zebra mussels on a pontoon boat being removed for the season. Jessie Lake is upstream of and connected to other waters where zebra mussels were previously confirmed.
Itasca County Soil and Water Conservation District staff located juvenile zebra mussels on equipment in Turtle Lake during an end-of-season inspection. Turtle Lake flows into the Bigfork River, where zebra mussels were previously confirmed.
Soil and water staff also found juvenile zebra mussels on equipment in Trout Lake during an end-of-season inspection. Trout Lake is near Pokegama Lake, where zebra mussels were previously confirmed.
This is often the time of year when new infestations are discovered as people remove equipment from the water, the DNR stated. Lake property owners should carefully look for invasive species on the posts, wheels and underwater support bars of docks and lifts, or other items that have been submerged in water for an extended period.
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