A zebra and quagga mussel (Dreissena polymorpha and D. rostriformis bugensis, respectively) control demonstration project is underway in Good Harbor Bay near the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Empire, Michigan. The goal of this project is to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of control methods for invasive dreissenid mussels in a Great Lakes coastal environment.

This project will address a subset of priorities under Management Goal II of the Invasive Mussel Collaborative's Strategy to Advance Management of Invasive Zebra and Quagga Mussels, which center around evaluation of control methods for localized natural habitats, as follows:
• Develop delivery methods, and application methods that can be applied, and target concentrations maintained, in various habitats and depths
• Evaluate and compare the feasibility, effectiveness and non-target impacts of toxicants and non-chemical methods, including effectiveness across a range of treatment depths and environmental conditions (e.g., water temperature, weather conditions (waves, currents), co-location of sensitive biota)
o Conduct small-scale experiments to compare efficacy of various methods
• Evaluate the potential for integrating multiple control methods to sustain benefits and minimize recovery of zebra and quagga populations

Specifically, this project aims to develop and evaluate control methods for use in localized natural rocky reef habitats and provide new information on control method application in a novel location, including logistical feasibility and constraints, effectiveness, and ecosystem response, providing valuable information to managers and researchers.

Publications:

Partner Agencies: 

Great Lakes Commission
National Park Service
U.S. Geological Survey
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Great Lakes Fishery Commission
LimnoTech
Underwater Construction Corporation
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, & Energy
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
University of Michigan
Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians
Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority
The Nature Conservancy

Contact: 

Erika Jensen, Great Lakes Commission
ejensen@glc.org

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