Carver County commissioners will decide Tuesday whether to spend about $50,000 this summer — more than twice what they spent in 2012 — to prevent zebra mussels and invasive weeds from spreading into several area lakes. The money would be used to hire inspectors to check boats launching and leaving Lake Minnewashta, Lake Waconia, Lake Bavaria and other lakes.
The funds would be matched by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, and by about $13,500 from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for Lake Waconia, and by $7,000 from the Friends of Lake Bavaria.
County Parks Director Marty Walsh said the purpose is to prevent the spread of non-native species such as zebra mussels that have been found in nearby lakes, including Lake Minnetonka.
Walsh said that details about inspection hours on the various lakes are still being worked out, but that inspections would begin during the fishing opener weekend in early May.
tom meersman
@stribmeers
