ST. JOSEPH -- Zebra mussels have been found in a Stearns County lake...the first one on record.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says a land owner found the zebra mussels on the ladder of a raft in Watab Lake north of St. Joseph, also known as Long Lake.

The DNR says it's not to be confused with Big Watab Lake south of Avon.

Because Watab Lake is connected to Rossier Lake and Lower Watab Lake, those waters will also be designated as infested waters, as well as the Watab River downstream of Watab Lake to the Mississippi River.

The designation doesn't mean each body of water is infested, but that zebra mussels have been detected in a lake accessible by boat and is likely spread between connected waters.

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