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On March 14th, 2025 we were alerted to the fact that zebra mussels have been found on Fish Hook in two locations on the north shore, on either side of the Potato River, also called the Rapid River.
The Enterprise has more information here...
https://www.parkrapidsenterprise.com/news/local/zebra-mussels-found-in-fish-hook-lake
Before placing your lake equipment back in the water, we need you to inspect for Zebra Mussels. Two files are located below. One is for inspection guidance and the other is a fact sheet about Zebra Mussels. This page will contain more information about our situation as we gather it.
Inspection Guidance.pdf
Zebra Mussel Fact Sheet.pdf
The Fish Hook Lake & River Association financially supports boat inspection sites on the Fish Hook Lake and River, and AIS testing and control. In 2025, we will spend an additional $7,000 above what the DNR has allocated to Fish Hook Lake and River public access points for watercraft inspections. At a cost of $26 per hour, this will add 270 additional hours of time an inspector will be present, split between our two public access points.
Hubbard County provides a free decontamination site which we encourage you to use, especially when transporting a watercraft from an infected waterway. More information is HERE.
Minnesota law requires water recreationists to:
Clean watercraft of all aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.
Drain all water by removing drain plugs and keeping them out during transport.
Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.
Dry docks, lifts, swim rafts and other equipment for at least 21 days before placing equipment into another water body.
Many of our lake and river residents are not currently members of our association. We strongly encourage you to join our association by joining or renewing your membership. Help to preserve your lakeshore property valuation.
What do I do if I find a ZM?
1. Put the ZM immediately in a container with lake water
2. Contact FHLARA with its location
3. Follow the protocol on collecting and storing below. (most likely the freezing option)
Collecting, storing and shipping zebra mussels for 2025-2027 UMN genomics study
Thank you for offering to collect zebra mussels for our project. This study will greatly expand the number of lakes that we have genotyped to study the source waters and routes of spread of zebra mussels in MN and surrounding regions. We are grateful for your help in obtaining these valuable samples. Here is a suggested protocol:
1. Number and size of animals We need 10-20 mussels from each waterbody. If 10 cannot be collected, we would certainly accept as many as possible, particularly from recently infested waters. More than 20 is fine, if for example you collect a cluster or “druse,” or plants with attached mussels. If you can, please include a size range of animals [to avoid collecting a single cohort—this is lower priority].
2. Locations and timing of collection You can use as many or as few sites within a waterbody and collect all animals on one date or as many dates as you wish. We have found no genetic substructure within even the largest inland lakes, and this project will not examine genetic changes of ZM populations over time.
3. Handling and transport to your office We suggest keeping the animals wrapped in moist towels or newspaper, on ice if possible. If ice is not possible, then keeping them moist and as cool as you can is a good option. Avoid transporting them immersed in water without ice; immersed in ice water is fine.
4. Preservation Please freeze the animals in zip loc or other sealable bag(s), at a temperature of -20C; -80C if you have access to that. No need to open the shell valves. We suggest freezing them in a small amount of water. This protects against damage to tissues and DNA because it will prolong thawing, if that happens.
5. Labeling Please label with water body (either name and county, or DOW) and date(s) collected. Also please include in the package (or by email) the geographic coordinates (UTM is fine).
6. Shipping and other options If the animals are to be shipped by courier, the best option is to accumulate collections from multiple lakes and ship overnight, on dry ice (our FedEx # is 2295-8408-1). If dry ice is not an option, cold ship with ice packs in a leakproof container. The goal with this option is that animals arrive cool and thawed no more than once; we dissect and process tissues upon arrival. Below is my contact information for questions and for alerting us to an upcoming shipment. We could also travel to your office to pick up frozen samples, coordinate with you (or partners) on travel planned to St. Paul, or rendezvous in between.
Contact: Michael McCartney, University of MN Genomics Center
28 Snyder Hall, 1475 Gortner Ave
St. Paul, MN 55108
mmccartn@umn.edu cell: 651-724-0754
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