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An invasive species of mussel called quagga has recently begun eating its way through the phytoplankton population of Lake Michigan, which could have dire effects on the lake's ecosystem, scientists now warn. A giant ring of phytoplankton (microscopic plants such as algae) was discovered in Lake Michigan in 1998 by Michigan Technological Universitybiologist W. Charles Kerfoot and his research team. The "phytoplankton doughnut" is formed when winter storms kick up nutrient-rich sediment along the southeastern shore of the lake. The disturbed sediments begin circulating in a slow-moving circle with the lake's currents, which provides a massive supply of food for...

Idaho is poised to fight the invasion of quagga mussels, tiny little creatures that wreak tremendous havoc in waterways and water pipes. The mussels are typically introduced into new states by infected boats. The mussels produce millions of eggs that get stuck on boat hulls and in bilges. Once in a river, they move downstream. The House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday unanimously voted to print a bill sponsored by Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, requiring all boats in Idaho waters to have a special sticker that would fund prevention programs.

SALT LAKE CITY – Trouble-making zebra mussels have arrived in Utah. But not where they were expected to show up. Electric Lake is Utah's first body of water where the damaging, nonnative mussels have been confirmed, state wildlife officials said Wednesday. The officials said they were surprised the fast-spreading mussels appeared there first because it's a high-elevation lake with relatively few boaters. It is boaters who sometimes unknowingly transport the mussels from lake to lake on their crafts. Most expected the mussels to show up first at Lake Powell. The mussels "showed up in one of the least-expected places," said...

Gov. Janet Napolitano has permanently reinstated the Arizona Invasive Species Advisory Council, a group that addresses threats from non-native species such as the roof rat, the yellow star thistle and the recently discovered quagga mussel... the quagga mussel, which has caused extensive damage in the upper Midwest, was found in Lake Mead, Lake Havasu and Lake Mohave along the Colorado River... the Game and Fish Department announced that an invasive fish thought to have been eradicated in Arizona, the bighead carp, has been found in Tucson's Lake Kennedy. It grows quite large and can damage ecosystems. The department also said...

LOS ANGELES Federal, state and local officials are on the hunt for an invasive mussel that has been spotted in California for the first time ever and could clog water supply pipelines. Quagga mussels were found earlier this month at Lake Mead in Arizona and at Lake Havasu near the Whitsitt intake facility for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The discoveries launched a wider search for infested reservoirs and pipelines in California that are connected to the Colorado Aqueduct. The aqueduct delivers water to an estimated 18 million people in urban Southern California, including Los Angeles and San...

Why is there a 'q' after my freep name? Anybody help here? Golly geez.