Zebra Mussels in Manitoba: Here are the facts

This fact sheet by the International Institute for Sustainable Development explains the nature of zebra mussels, their spread into Manitoba, and their potential ecological and infrastructural impacts on Lake Winnipeg.

• Zebra mussels are freshwater molluscs from the Ponto–Caspian region of Eastern Europe that act as filter feeders, consuming algae and other particles. They are characterized by their ability to attach to hard surfaces—including rocks, plants, boats, and water intakes—and can reach densities exceeding 10,000 individuals per square metre.
• First detected in Lake Erie in 1986, zebra mussels spread through the Great Lakes and eventually to over 800 lakes across eastern North America. In Manitoba, they have been identified in the Red River, the south basin of Lake Winnipeg, the north basin of Lake Winnipeg near George Island, and a veliger was detected in Cedar Lake.
• The arrival of zebra mussels in Manitoba likely occurred via the Red River as adults or veligers, or overland via equipment from invaded habitats in Minnesota and North Dakota.
• Ecological impacts include the potential for mussels to filter entire lake volumes in days, reducing algae and subsequently causing declines in fish and insects. Their nutrient-rich waste can stimulate plant growth at lake edges, and in the Laurentian Great Lakes, they caused noxious, bacterial-rich shoreline algal blooms.
• In Lake Winnipeg, it is expected that most rocky surfaces in the southern basin, as well as docks and water intakes, will be completely covered by zebra mussels within a few years. Public precautions include thoroughly cleaning equipment moved from Lake Winnipeg to other bodies of water and wearing protective footwear to avoid cuts from sharp shells.

APA

Higgins, S. (2017). Zebra Mussels in Manitoba: Here are the facts. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/zebra-mussels-manitoba-here-are-facts

Chicago

Higgins, Scott. Zebra Mussels in Manitoba: Here are the facts. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2017. https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/zebra-mussels-manitoba-here-are-facts.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Higgins |first1=Scott |title=Zebra Mussels in Manitoba: Here are the facts |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=4 April 2017 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/zebra-mussels-manitoba-here-are-facts |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{higgins2017zebra, author = {Higgins, Scott}, title = {{Zebra Mussels in Manitoba: Here are the facts}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2017}, month = apr, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/zebra-mussels-manitoba-here-are-facts}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }