Pam Thiel
(Project Leader)
555 Lester Avenue
Onalaska, WI 54650

Email
Phone:
(608) 783-8434
Fax:
(608) 783-8450

Zebra Mussel Project

Photo courtesy of USGS

Zebra mussels, Dreissena polymorpha,were introduced to the Great Lakes in the mid 1980's and since have spread to several major rivers, including the Mississippi River. One of the major impacts zebra mussels have had is on the native mussel populations. This threat is ongoing and for several endangered species zebra mussels are the greatest threat to their existence. In response to this threat the La Crosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (FWCO), in coordination with their partners, continue to monitor the spread of zebra mussels on the St. Croix River. The St. Croix is home to the endangered Higgins Eye Pearlymussel and Winged Mapleleaf mussel.

The National Park Service, in conjunction with the Fish & Wildlife Service, established a SCUBA Dive Team in 2000, in large part to actively monitor the presence of zebra mussels. Periodic dives associated with research or resource management augment our understanding of zebra mussel numbers and locations in the St. Croix River. When zebra mussels are found, a quadrant sampler is used to determine abundance. La Crosse FWCO staff participate on the dive team, and also monitor zebra mussels with multi-plate samplers. Multi-plate samplers are deployed along the lower St. Croix and checked twice a month during the open water season.

Photo courtesy of Paul Machajewski, US Army Corp of Engineers

Zebra mussel facts

The point of contact for this project is:
Scott_Yess@fws.gov
(608) 783-8432
or Dave_Wedan@fws.gov
(608) 783-8435