'Extremely Disruptive' Species Found In Candlewood Lake

BROOKFIELD, CT — The Candlewood Lake Authority is sounding the alarm that a zebra mussel was found Sunday attached to a boat hoist that was removed from the Lattins Cove area of the lake. It's the third instance of zebra mussels being found in Candlewood Lake in 2020.

Zebra mussels can be extremely disruptive to the ecosystems in which they invade, according to a news release from the CLA.

Since the discovery, the hoist, docks, and shoreline in the area have been searched thoroughly and there were no indications of additional mussels, according to a news release.

"Their population can grow rapidly, and quickly cover hard surfaces like docks, ladders, boats props and hulls, and hoists," CLA officials said. "Their sharp shells also present a potential safety hazard to swimmers without proper footwear. They can also quickly take habitat from native mussels and out compete organisms that are important to Candlewood Lake's food chain."

In an effort to determine the extent of the current population in the lake, the CLA will be searching the shoreline of critical areas, including areas where mussels have been found, to search for any additional signs that might have been missed.