DNR zebra mussel lawsuit dropped

Several western metro lake associations have dropped their lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources over zebra mussel inspections, after a Carver County judge ruled against the injunction they had requested.

The lawsuit asked the court to force the DNR to set up a single mandatory boat inspection station to prevent the spread of zebra mussels to several lakes: Bavaria, Christmas, Lotus, and Minnewashta.

Boaters would have to pass inspection at the centralized location and then drive to the boat ramp and punch in an access code.

Judge Philip Kanning agreed with the DNR, which said it did not have authority to set up inspections stations away from launch points. New legislation gives the DNR more flexibility on the matter.

The DNR plans to deploy 23 decontamination stations this summer at lakes infested with zebra mussels.