What’s Next for Sak After Zebra Mussel Detection

Zebra mussels can have profound impacts on popular fishing waters where they are introduced, removing the most basic forage items necessary for fish recruitment, changing water clarity, and impacting areas of weed growth due to clearer waters.  Simonson Photo. By Nick Simonson With the detection of zebra mussel veligers in a summer water sampling from Lake Sakakawea, and subsequent cold water surveys of the eastern end of the reservoir this fall revealing adult specimens of the aquatic nuisance species (ANS), the North Dakota Game Fish Department (NDG F) is already undertaking next steps to monitor and contain the invasives now found in one of the state’s largest and most visited lakes, according to Ben Holen, NDG F ANS Coordinator. “We collect thousands of water samples from across the state using plankton tows. And those plankton tows are targeted sampling looking for zebra mussel veligers, so the larval offspring. We collect those samples during the summer and then spend the fall