Colonization of Lake Michigan Shipwrecks Concerns Archeologi

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From November 11, 1992 (update #15)

Concern about the zebra mussel's threat to historic Lake Michigan shipwrecks increased in September after mussel colonies were discovered on wrecks at Sheboygan, Wis., and Escanaba, Mich. Zebra mussels were found on a shipwreck dredged from Sheboygan harbor Sept. 2 in connection with a marina development project, according to State Historical Society of Wisconsin Underwater Archeologist David Cooper. Cooper said the mussels were found on all of the ship's wooden structures that were not covered by sand. No mussels were found on the ship's metal fittings. Available information indicates that the ship was the Lottie Cooper, lost in 1894 at the mouth of the Sheboygan harbor during an intense storm. Mussels were also found Sept. 12 at the wreck of the Nahant near Escanaba, Mich., by recreational diver P.J. Creviere. The Nahant was a 300-foot steamer built around the turn of the century. Both Cooper and Creviere expressed concern about the mussel colonizing more Great Lakes shipwrecks. Cooper is worried that the mussel may destroy some of Wisconsin's newly created underwater historical sites. Creviere related stories of wrecks in Lake Erie that are no longer recognizable as ships because of heavy zebra mussel colonization.

ID: 19921111-6.

The Zebra Mussel Update was a 4- to 8-page quarterly national newsletter published by the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute from May 1990 through May 1997. The ZMU documented the spread of the zebra mussel -- an exotic nuisance mussel -- through North America's freshwater environments, especially the Great Lakes, and on efforts to control it.