Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) were introduced to the United States in the late 1980s, primarily through the ballast water of ships coming from Europe. These small, striped freshwater mussels are native to the lakes and rivers of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. When ships traveled across the Atlantic Ocean and entered U.S. waters, they often took on ballast water to maintain stability during transit. This water sometimes contained zebra mussel larvae (called veligers), which were then released into the Great Lakes when the ships discharged their ballast.
The first confirmed infestation was in Lake St. Clair, near Detroit, Michigan, in 1986. From there, zebra mussels rapidly spread throughout the Great Lakes and into other waterways across North America, leading to significant ecological and economic impacts. They compete with native species for food and habitat, contribute to the clogging of water intake pipes, and cause damage to boats and recreational equipment. Their introduction has necessitated ongoing management efforts to control their spread.
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