Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) found an invasive pest in two lakes after fielding reports of increased aquatic vegetation in those areas.
According to The Associated Press, the appearance of starry stonewort at Lake Koronis and Mud Lake is a first for the state of Minnesota. People who live around the area noticed an uptick in plants in around the lake, reporting it to the DNR.
The department then found the pest in the two lakes, which connect to each other and lie within Stearns and Meeker counties. Starry stonewort is algae that looks like grass, The AP noted, and it coats and suffocates existing plant life.
The first time starry stonewort was documented in the U.S. was in 1978 when the pest appeared in the St. Lawrence River. Wisconsin confirmed the arrival of the weed last year.
Karen Langmo, a member of the Koronis Lake Association, told The Minneapolis Star-Tribune her grandfather built her family's cabin on the lake in 1927. She said starry stonewort developing there is difficult for residents, especially since the Koronis Lake Association has an inspection system in place.
"It's really hard to see this happening," she said. "To me, this lake is sacred."
