Lincoln Pond already has extensive Eurasian milfoil beds. Residents need to be alert for other exotic species, particularly the zebra mussel and the quagga mussel (two species of the genus Dreissena). So far, these mussels have not become a problem in the Adirondack waters, but they have just been spotted in Lake Champlain. Some say these 1-2 inch mussels are the most serious and costly biological invasion to affect our rivers a d lakes, because they clog intake and outlet pipes for public water, industrial uses, and electric utilities. They attach themselves in colonies (numbering tens of thousands) to submerged structures by thread-like secretions, and wreck havoc on native clams. The mussels have a high reproductive rate; one female can produce a million eggs in a summer.
Adirondack waters may not be a very suitable habitat for the zebra and quagga mussels because of lake acidity. Evidently, pH values of less than 6.5 cause metabolic stress to mussels, and mussel death results when the pH is less than 5.5. Furthermore, some researchers indicate mussels are generally not a problem in water bodies less than 100 feet across.
Neither of these possible salvations apply to Lincoln Pond. Acid precipitation is concentrated at elevations over 2,500 feet. Lincoln Pond lies at 1031 feet. Lincoln Pond's pH level (from DEC and BRASS water analyses from 1963 to present) indicate an average 7.0 pH at the surface, and 6.5 at the lake's bottom (25 foot depth). And, the surface area of Lincoln Pond is 2,172,341 sq. ft. north of the causeway, and 9007,442 sq. ft. south, for a total of 467 acres. Hardly a pond of less than a 100' span!
Prevention control for zebra mussels is the same as that for Eurasian milfoil. Clean all mud and plant matter from you boat, trailer, propeller, live well and anchors before leaving the landing. Even canoes should be checked inside and out. Dry or wash your boat and equipment. Drain live wells, bait buckets, and bilge areas. Let your boat and trailer dry in the sun for at least 3 days before you use it again in another lake or river. Or, wash your boat and equipment with very hot water (at least 105o F.).