Blackwell Lake near Holmes City is the latest Douglas County lake where zebra mussels have been discovered.
It was recently listed on Minnesota's Infested Waters List, the only Douglas County lake added to the list in 2021. That brings to 46 the number of Douglas County lakes with zebra mussels, a fingernail-sized invasive mollusk that is thought to have arrived in the U.S. in the 1980s.
Zebra mussels hurt ecosystems by removing algae that native species need for food. They can also cut bare feet, overpower native mussels, impair boat motors and clog up water intakes.
The DNR announced the updated list on July 14.
People should contact a Minnesota DNR aquatic invasive species specialist if they think they have found zebra mussels or any other invasive species.
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More information is available at mndnr.gov/ais .
