News Release

National Park Service to Search Lakes for Zebra Mussels

Date: August 2, 2022
Contact: Tawnya Schoewe
Contact: Brian Harmon

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN: The National Park Service will search for zebra mussels in and near Voyageurs National Park from August 2 through August 5, 2022. The effort will include a SCUBA team who will dive to inspect areas of Black Bay on Rainy Lake just outside of park boundaries where the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) detected zebra mussel veligers (larval stage of zebra mussels) in 2021. The divers will also search in other park waters.

Through this effort, Voyageurs National Park will gain information on the status of the zebra mussel infestation of Rainy Lake and will search for infestations in other park waters. This information will be used to optimize efforts to prevent further spread of zebra mussels. For more information on zebra mussel effects and prevention, go to: https://www.nps.gov/voya/learn/nature/aquatic-invasive-species.htm