Minnesota confirms zebra mussels in Manuel Mine Lake near Crosby

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources confirmed zebra mussels in Manuel Mine Lake near Crosby on July 13, 2026, creating a new invasive-species concern for the Crosby area and local lake users.

The DNR’s announcement identified two affected lakes in Crow Wing County. Manuel Mine Lake is near Crosby, while Perch Lake is near Baxter. The findings were presented as confirmed zebra mussel discoveries, not as a routine lake advisory.

What the finding means for Crosby

Zebra mussels can affect boating, fishing, shoreline management and other lake-related recreation. Their presence can also lead to mandatory watercraft-cleaning precautions, making prevention and monitoring important for people who move boats or other equipment between lakes.

For Crosby residents and visitors who use Manuel Mine Lake, the confirmation changes the environmental status of a nearby recreation area. Boaters, anglers and other lake users may need to pay closer attention to watercraft-cleaning requirements if state or local authorities establish them. The approved information does not say that new lake-specific requirements have been imposed.

The finding also has relevance beyond Manuel Mine Lake’s shoreline. Because the DNR reported a second confirmation at Perch Lake near Baxter, the July 13 release concerns two separate lake areas in the same county rather than one isolated location. The City of Crosby’s official website provides the municipal context for the affected community and highlights Crosby’s connection to local lakes and recreation.

What the announcement does not establish

The confirmation does not, by itself, establish that Manuel Mine Lake is closed or that access restrictions, inspections or containment rules are in effect. The available announcement does not identify a closure order, an inspection schedule or a specific enforcement date.

It also does not provide the extent of the zebra mussel infestation in either lake. No estimate of ecological damage or economic cost is included in the approved information, so the effect on shoreline property, local businesses or recreation-related activity cannot be quantified from this announcement.

Next steps remain unspecified

The confirmed development is the DNR’s July 13, 2026 announcement that zebra mussels were found in Manuel Mine Lake near Crosby and Perch Lake near Baxter. Monitoring and prevention measures are the relevant concerns for lake users, but the available release does not state what additional action the DNR or local authorities will take next or set a deadline for that action.

For now, the information supports a confirmed invasive-species finding near Crosby, not a claim that zebra mussels have spread into Crosby’s municipal water system or that specific damage has already occurred.