DETROIT LAKES, Minn. -- A zebra mussel has been found in Pickerel Lake near Cotton Lake in central Becker County, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources plans to declare the lake infested today.
Gary Thompson, owner of Tri-State Diving, said he found a solitary zebra mussel last week just off the public boat access on Pickerel Lake.
Tri-State Diving uses Pickerel Lake for training new divers. It will continue to use the lake for practice and training exercises, but all diving equipment will have to be sanitized after divers are finished, Thompson said. Hot water and chlorine are used on some equipment and wetsuits require a special treatment, he said.
The DNR plans to issue a news release today on the Pickerel Lake discovery.
Even though only one zebra mussel was found, “they still have to list it as infested,” Thompson said. “If the lake goes a certain number of years without any more being found, they can take it off again.”
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The DNR announced last week that zebra mussels had been found in Lake Melissa, the first lake in Becker County to be designated infested.
