Zebra mussels are an aquatic invasive that have not yet been found in Candlewood Lake, but they have been found throughout much of the Housatonic River along with other nearby bodies of water.
Candlewood Lake Authority announced local research aimed to help prevent the spread of zebra mussels from one waterbody to another.
The authority has partnered with Kevin Kelly from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation, Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) and Praxair, headquartered in Danbury, to study the potential of using carbon dioxide, diffused into the water, to kill zebra mussel veligers as they exit a body of water through a stream, pipe or other choke point.
This research will begin at the end of the month at Laurel Lake in Massachusetts, which flows into the Housatonic River, and last for about two weeks. There are potential local and even national implications for this research.
Candlewood Lake is surrounded by Sherman, Brookfield, New Fairfield, Danbury and New Milford.
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