Zebra mussels were first noticed in Bear Lake during 2011, this year they have continued to multiply quickly. They attach themselves to almost any hard objects (docks, rocks, boat motors, etc.). Here are some pictures from our lake:
These are not “baby clams” attached to larger clams from the lake, they are zebra mussels using the clams as a host. They also attached themselves to this plastic cup.
They are attached to this “float” that had sunk to bottom of the lake.
They have also been found on docks removed after the 2012 summer season. We have discussed these invasive mussels with PLM (our lake management company) and there is currently no approved treatment to fight them although one is currently being tested. In the short term they should not cause any harm unless you step on them (they are razor sharp). They may even help clean the water but this, of course, creates other problems. Ultimately, they will disrupt the food chain in the lake and be a hazard if large numbers of them attach to hard lake objects. Since every female mussel can produce up to a million offspring in a year, the population can multiply very fast.
While we wait for a possible long term solution, removing any unwanted or unneeded objects from the lake that could be a “host” could help. These would include clams, unused boat moorings (cinder blocks, concrete buckets, etc.), logs, and of course trash. In that regard with the help of the township improvement association, volunteer divers have remove such things as tires and even large appliances from the lake bottom. In summary, next summer we believe keeping your lake front clear of unwanted “host” objects can help. If you know of a large item you cannot remove yourself, let us know and we will attempt to have it removed for you.
Thanks for working to keep our lake beautiful!