Program Information
U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers | Engineer Research and Development Center |
Environmental Laboratory |
Search EL
Zebra mussels were first discovered in Lake St. Clair in 1988
(Mackie 1989, Griffiths et al. 1991). Subsequent analyses of the
Lake St. Clair zebra mussel population indicated that these bivalves
were introduced into Lake St. Clair in 1986 (Mackie 1989, Griffiths
et al. 1991) The most likely source of introduction was ballast
water from an ocean going commercial vessel. Since their introduction
zebra mussels have spread throughout the Great Lakes, the Mississippi
River drainage basin, and threaten to extend their range to the
river basins and water supply systems of the western states. To
address this problem and to search for various alternatives for
the prevention and control of this nuisance species, the Zebra
Mussel Research Program (ZMRP) was authorized by the Nonindigenous
Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990, Public Law
101-646, and is the only Federally authorized research program
for the development of technology to control zebra mussels. Research
areas include the development of filters, antifoulant coatings
such as paints and the application of liquid metal compounds,
carbon dioxide treatments, the use of electrical fields to prevent
attachment of zebra mussels, and biological control using microorganisms.
Back to Zebra Mussel
Research Program