Several lake associations in Carver County wanted to force the DNR to set up a boat inspection station to keep the invasive mussels from spreading to new lakes. But the court agreed with the DNR, which says it is only authorized to set up the stations at boat launches.

The Department of Natural Resources says there's hope that a chemical might help stop the spread of the invasive aquatic species that is fast spreading in Minnesota lakes. The DNR treated Rose Lake in Otter Tail County last fall, and two divers who scoured the lake this week did not find any zebra mussels.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said Thursday that they've started on a research project to discover an effective and environmentally safe means to control zebra mussels and protect aquatic ecosystems. The DNR said Zequanox is a natural product that was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for use in controlling zebra and quagga mussels that attach, colonize and clog closed industrial water systems.