University of Illinois Extension

Ooze, Goo & Other Nasty Things

zebra musselWhen they arrived in the Great Lakes, the ballast water was released and the Zebra Mussels found a new home. Since they multiply so fast and had no natural enemies, their populations exploded. Their numbers are so high, they are now damaging the Great Lakes ecosystem. They have been known to plug power plants' water intakes so the plant can't produce enough electricity.