Zebra Mussels Discovered in Lake Ashtabula

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department says it has confirmed the presence of invasive zebra mussels in Lake Ashtabula.

Last week, an angler discovered a suspected zebra mussel, and turned it into Game and Fish’s nuisance species coordinator Jessica Howell. Howell confirmed it was an adult zebra mussel. Further inspections of the lake found established populations of zebra mussels of various ages throughout the lake.

Because of this new finding, the Game and Fish Department has classified Lake Ashtabula, and the Sheyenne River downstream all the way to the Red River, as Class I ANS infested water. Emergency rules will go into effect immediately to prohibit the movement of water away from the lake and river, including water for transferring bait. Notices will be posted at lake access sites and popular shore-fishing spots along the river.