Zebra mussels have radically changed Lake Michigan. The only good thing they have done is improve the viz. BUT, they coat everything. You go down on a wreck and its hard to identify stuff. When I started diving back in the 70's wrecks were pretty much the same as when they went down. Even 150 year old ones. No more. Their shells are as sharp as razor blades. They cut up gloves and they love to shred neoprene. They feed on the same plankton as the forage fish and have contributed to the decline of Perch, whitefish, smelt and alwife. The salmon eat the smelt and alwife. No food, guess what happens next.
As previously mentioned, there has been a decline in zebra mussels. This is partly because the gobies are eating them. The are also being pushed out by another invader, the quaga mussel. These are a little bigger and seem to grow deeper then the zebra. Hopefully, mother nature will come up with a solution to this. Everything that man does to fix any problem on the lakes tends to make things worse.
Personally,I think the zebra mussel decline in lake Michigan is due to the little buggers outstripping their food supply. The last few years the viz had been amazing in my area. This year in water less then a hundred feet, the zebras domain, the clarity has not been even close. With the exception of the Milwaukee area, there has been a decline in the mussels. I can't speak for Chicago as I don't dive down there, but its a documented fact that Milwaukee constantly dumps sewage into the lake and thats why they have a smelly lake front and zebra mussels. Sorry DNR, its not seagulls creating the problem.
So, zebra mussels a good thing? I would say no. Can we stop the spread. No, but we can slow it down. But even if we do religously wash our boats and dive gear, the waterfowl will still transport it. In the end mother nature will do what she pleases.
Jim
