Consultant's Report - Minnesota State Legislature

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Feasibility Study to Limit the Spread of Zebra Mussels from Ossawinnamakee Lake
created a Task Force with three primary goaJs aimed at stopping or slowing the spread ofANS.
Reauthorized in 1996, the primary goals ofthe Task Force have remained:
1) To prevent introduction and dispersal ofaquatic nuisance species
2) To monitor, control and study such species
3) To educate and inform the general public and program stakeholders about the
prevention and control ofthese species
Regional panels of the ANS Task Force help coordinate ANS efforts and identifY priorities in
their respective regions. The increase in concern and need for prevention and control ofANS is
exhibited by the establishment ofstate ANS programs and efforts. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa,
Missouri and Illinois all have established and/or expanding ANS programs.
The introduction ofANS (including zebra mussels) has the potential to alter ecosystems and food
webs (Pflieger 1997) and cause extinction of some species (Taylor et al. 1984). Similarly, it is
estimated that 44 species native to the Untied States are threatened or endangered by
nonindigenous species (Wilcove and Bean 1994 in Pimentel et al. 2000). While some
nonindigenous fish species have been associated with positive economic benefits, the majority of
nonindigenous, exotic fish species are associated with an estimated $1 billion per year economic
loss (Pimentel et al. 2000). Concern about the spread ofANS, including zebra mussels has been
expressed by state (MN DNR Exotic Species Program 2002) and regional entities (MICRA River
Crossings) for several years. The zebra mussel is among the 40+ nonindigenous species that
pose a threat to waters in the United States.
IV-17 Review ofZebra Mussel (Dreissella polymorpha) Species