In 2020, nearly 50 Zebra Mussels were discovered in Candlewood Lake and conservation efforts have been stepped up to reduce the possibility of their growth and subsequent damage to the Lake’s ecosystem.We are still evaluating the current state of the Zebra Mussel population in Candlewood. Please click here for a pre-recorded Webinar about the Zebra Mussel population in Candlewood as of 2/18/2021.
Zebra mussels are an invasive mollusk, not native to North America. They are usually spread via human activity (boats etc.), have no natural predators here, and can spread rapidly throughout a body of water. Once zebra mussels get established in a lake, there is little that can be done to completely eliminate them. A lake with a hospitable environment can see rapidly increasing numbers of zebra mussels in a short period of time. Ultimately, preventing zebra mussels requires all the boaters entering the lake to make sure they aren't transporting any hidden hitch hikers!
Move boat away from the lake. Remove attached mussels and drain any water from bilge, ballast, etc. Wash boat thoroughly with hot, high pressure water.
Always CLEAN, DRAIN and DRY your boat, trailer, and equipment before entering Candlewood Lake.
One major pathway that zebra mussels can take to enter Candlewood Lake is attached to our boats and trailers, or hiding in our bilge/ballast water. The adult mussels can be found attached to your boat hull, motor, or trailer, while the microscopic larvae can stow away undetected in water from other water bodies in your bilge, ballast, or livewell.
"CLEAN - DRAIN - DRY" your boat, PWC, kayak, and equipment before coming to Candlewood from another body of water, as well as when you leave if you plan on traveling to another lake. Click the link here for instructions on zebra mussels and how to properly clean your vessel.
Check this map to see what areas have been searched already. Searched areas where mussels have not been found are marked in green, areas where they have been found are marked in red.
Use this form to report your observations, even if you don’t find any zebra mussels. You can do it right on your phone, or take notes in the field and enter them on this form later. Your GPS coordinates can be found by simply clicking or tapping your location on a Google Map, or by using any of a number of GPS apps available for your phone.