Minnesota dumps potash into lake to kill zebra mussels

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is injecting liquid potash under the ice of its Christmas Lake in an effort to eradicate the invasive zebra and quagga mussels found in the area.

The agency said this is the first time potash has been used for this purpose in Minnesota and only the third time in the U.S., Abc News reported.

Zebra mussels reproduce quickly and can disrupt the food chain, clog water pipes and create algae.

The technique has been successfully applied in Canada, with the province of Manitoba becoming the first one to use liquid potash in a lake environment this year.