State wildlife officials have announced that zebra mussels have been found in Lake Wisconsin, the 9,000-acre body of water in Columbia and Sauk counties.

"The zebra mussels found recently by Alliant Energy at the Prairie du Sac Dam and by local citizen monitors indicate there is an established, reproducing population in Lake Wisconsin," Susan Graham, lakes management coordinator for DNR's South Central Region at Fitchburg, recently said of the invasive mollusks.

"Mussels ranging from very tiny adults to larger adults (over an inch long) were found attached to the Prairie du Sac Dam turbines and samplers placed up-lake," she pointed out.

The non-native mollusks -- invertebrate animals lacking a spine -- can take a toll on the environment, recreation and economy, Graham said.

The DNR has placed Lake Wisconsin on the "Infested List," meaning the DNR will post 'Exotic Species Advisory' signs with zebra mussel decals at all boat landings to notify the public that the lake harbors the species.

Watercraft inspectors will visit landings during the boating season to alert boaters that Lake Wisconsin is infested and to educate them on how to avoid spreading the exotic mussel to other waters.
       
The DNR will work with local groups such as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and Columbia and Sauk County lakes and rivers groups, as well as local governments and state parks, to increase public awareness and outreach efforts to control the further spread of zebra mussels, Graham said.

Agency staff will continue to monitor Lake Wisconsin for zebra mussel adults using plate samplers and look for microscopic zebra mussel larvae (called veligers) employing small mesh nets.

"Transfer of zebra mussels to nearby Devil's Lake, Mirror Lake or Crystal Lake could harm the local fishery and impact other recreational activities such as swimming and boating on these popular lakes," said DNR fisheries biologist Tim Larson of Poynette.

Zebra mussels form dense clusters that attach to hard surfaces. They can decimate native mussel populations and decrease the oxygen that fish and other aquatic species need. Also, zebra mussels can clog boat engines as well as intake pipes used by utilities and industrial facilities. Their sharp shells can cut the feet of beach walkers.

Zebra mussels first arrived in the Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan in the Racine harbor during 1990 as 'stowaways' aboard foreign freighters entering the Great Lakes. Since then, they have 'hitched rides' on boats and vegetation, becoming established in more than 50 inland waters.

"There are a set of simple, but effective steps that everyone should take when boating, fishing and otherwise enjoying the water that can help prevent the spread of invasive species," Graham said. "It's important to practice these prevention steps when transferring boats or equipment, such as boat lifts or piers, from any water body to prevent the spread of not only zebra mussels, but other invasive species such as Eurasian water-milfoil, quagga mussels, spiny waterfleas and Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) virus."

DNR officials are requesting each boater take the following preventive steps before moving a boat or equipment to a new water body:

1. Inspect and remove plants, animals and mud from your boat, trailer and equipment;
2. Drain all water from your boat's live wells, bilge, motor, etc;
3. Dispose of unused bait in the trash, not in the water;
4. Spray/rinse the boat and equipment with high pressure and/or hot water -- especially if moored for more than a day -- or dry the boat and equipment thoroughly for five days.

* ATV trails not recommended

People can review a staff recommendation to the state Natural Resources Board that the DNR not pursue construction of two proposed all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trails on the Northern Highland - American Legion (NHAL) State Forest.

Forestry staff cited local opposition, a high likelihood for user conflicts, cost, maintenance and supervision concerns, and a high potential for environmental impacts as reasons for the recommendation.

Nearly 2,500 people commented on the proposed ATV trails at meetings, on surveys and in written communications. Those comments were summarized and are available at http://dnr.wi.gov/master_planning/nhal/NHAL-atvtrail.htm.

The Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest is located in portions of Vilas, Iron and Oneida counties.

The Natural Resources Board will consider the DNR recommendation at its April 23 meeting in Madison. For more information, go to http://dnr.wi.gov/org/nrboard/agenda.html.  

* Wood honored by DNR

Dave Wood, a veteran Department of Natural Resources conservation warden in Fitchburg, was honored recently as the Outstanding Warden for 2007 in the agency's 11-county South Central Region.

Wood, whose responsibilities cover southwest Dane County, was selected for not only his conservation law enforcement efforts, but for programs in the areas of outdoor safety, public relations, protecting the environment and working with other agencies.

"Dave is a hard worker who will take on any task with a positive attitude and is always available to respond at all hours of the day and night," Madison-area warden supervisor Jeremy Plautz said.

Warden Wood has been recognized for his work in environmental protection and with outdoor safety programs. He was recently complimented by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for help with a poaching case and continues to be an active partner with the Dane County Sheriff's Recreation Patrol.

* Gander Mountain store to open

Gander Mountain, the nation's largest retail network of stores for hunting, fishing, camping, boating, marine and outdoor lifestyle products and services, will open its newest store on April 22 at 6199 Metro Drive in the Town of Burke.

The store is the 13th in Wisconsin, the state where Gander Mountain -- it has 114 stores spanning 23 states -- was founded in 1960 as a catalog company.

The nearly 91,000-square-foot store is one of the largest of Gander Mountain's 114 stores. The store will offer an on-site gunsmith, ATV service and repair, an archery lane and full-service archery shop, line winding and boat and motor service. The store will also feature a "Gander Mountain Lodge", a meeting room provided free of charge for meetings of local outdoor groups.

For more information, go to www.gandermountain.com.