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| Grant Township, Cheboygan County, Michigan www.granttwp.com |
| Can Zebra Mussels Finally Be Controlled? reprinted from Current Reflections, Fall/Winter 2010 A publication of the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council |
Currently, work is under way to make this product commercially available. It should be available in the near future and the
Watershed Council will be watching closely to see if this "miracle cure" for zebra mussels is the real deal. If the product is indeed
effective at controlling zebra mussels in lakes and streams, then we will certainly be looking into local application to reduce invasive
mussel populations and return our lakes to pre-zebra mussel quality. Good news becomes better: apparently this bacterial treatment
can also be used to control the zebra's notorious cousin, the quagga mussel!
Watershed Council will be watching closely to see if this "miracle cure" for zebra mussels is the real deal. If the product is indeed
effective at controlling zebra mussels in lakes and streams, then we will certainly be looking into local application to reduce invasive
mussel populations and return our lakes to pre-zebra mussel quality. Good news becomes better: apparently this bacterial treatment
can also be used to control the zebra's notorious cousin, the quagga mussel!
It seems too good to be true, but there may finally be a cure for the invasive zebra mussels that
have caused so many problems in the lakes and streams of Northern Michigan. Research by the New
York State Museum (www.nysm.nysed.gov) has found that a bacterial species, Pseudomonas
fluorescens, is a natural enemy and very lethal to zebra mussels. Tests to date using these bacteria
have been limited to small areas (water intake pipes), but have shown an impressive kill rate (>95%.)
Based on control of other problematic species using similar bacteria-based products, researchers
believe that the bacteria will effectively control the invasive mussels in larger water bodies. In addition,
these bacteria do not appear to affect non-target species, such as fish and other bivalves.
have caused so many problems in the lakes and streams of Northern Michigan. Research by the New
York State Museum (www.nysm.nysed.gov) has found that a bacterial species, Pseudomonas
fluorescens, is a natural enemy and very lethal to zebra mussels. Tests to date using these bacteria
have been limited to small areas (water intake pipes), but have shown an impressive kill rate (>95%.)
Based on control of other problematic species using similar bacteria-based products, researchers
believe that the bacteria will effectively control the invasive mussels in larger water bodies. In addition,
these bacteria do not appear to affect non-target species, such as fish and other bivalves.