Bede Music Box

Air Topics Land Topics Water Topics Energy Topics Search Quick Access Calendar of Events Economic Development Assistance DEP Accomplishments Forms & Publications Grants & Loans Certification Public Participation Incident Sign up for e- notice In Your Neighborhood Links Education & History Employment & Careers Mapping Technical Guidance Remove My Email Address HTML version Text version readers. Department of Environmental Protection Northwest Regional Office 230 Chestnut St. Meadville, PA 16335 7/13/2005 Freda Tarbell Phone: (814) 332-6816 zebra mussels have been found in Conewango Creek in Pine Grove Township, marking the “Zebra mussels have been present in the Great Lakes since the mid-1980s when they were introduced through ballast water from a freighter that had taken on the water in eastern DEP biologists discovered zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) in the creek near a boat launch area north of Akley last week. Adult zebra mussels are small clam-like animals about Ever since zebra mussels were discovered in Erie’s Presque Isle Bay in the late 1980s, state and local biologists have monitored Pennsylvania waters to see if the species is spreading. region, says the mussels are very adaptable. “Zebra mussels have few controlling natural predators and they multiply rapidly,” Grazio said. “They disrupt the food chain by devouring the microscopic aquatic plants that support the existence of native mussels and fish.” DEP biologist Joe Brancato, who discovered the adult zebra mussels in Conewango Creek, said there are a number of potential ways that the mussels could have been introduced to the stream. “It’s possible that the zebra mussels came from Chautauqua Lake in New York State,” Brancato said. “Zebra mussels moved into the lake in the mid-1990s, and even though the Keyword: “Zebra Mussels.” # # # 2005