Thu Mar 23, 2017 6:18 pm
- I live on a formerly pea green lake in central Minnesota. It's on a "chain" of lakes that the Zebra mussels have gotten into. Water clarity has gotten as good as 30 feet. Yes the Zebras do coat everything on the bottom. But the increased light has encouraged deeper weed growth and therefore more cover for game fish. I have been diving when schools of minnows were swimming all in formation just like you've seen ocean schools swim. I have been in smaller schools of bigger fish, too. I have had 20+ walleyes swimming around me. Huge carp glide in and out of view.
- There is something going on with the carp, too. The DNR stopped removing them and now when a school of them gets into your area they root around in the silt and make the water all cloudy. When they move on, it clears up again. But, I've noticed at 20 feet deep, where I used to stick my arm into silt up to my elbow... There is now a firm sandy bottom. I'm figuring the carp stir it up and the zebra mussels filter it.
- The DNR sees this all as a terrible consequence and has suggested POISONING our lakes to get rid of the mussels. They don't see where they've improved the water quality by a natural process. Heck the state of Michigan has based their "Pure Michigan" state advertising theme on the beautifully clear water brought about by Zebra Mussels.
- There may be other natural cleanups happening, too. My sister has lived on a lake that was always so weedy you could hardly navigate a boat in it. Well, the DNR quit trapping the "rough fish" (carp) and the carp have been eating the weeds. Nowsdays there are people swimming and water skiing in that lake. You could say the DNR had been mis-managing it to death for decades and when they finally left it alone it regained its beauty.
- I sure like my lake a heck of a lot more with its clean and clear zebra mussel water. I hope the DNR just leaves it alone.
SurfLung
The Freedom and Simplicity of Vintage Equipment and
Vintage Diving Technique are Why I Got Back Into Diving.