Because of its efforts, the village has had more time to learn about the mussels and how to deal with them in the future.

For instance, Carl Good, a member of the zebra mussel committee, said there are now ceramic sleeves that can be purchased that help keep the clinging zebra mussels from clogging water pipe lines. Good said more and more devices are being made to help control the zebra mussels. He says we know a lot more now than we did three to four years ago and this is why buying the extra few years was so worth while.

It was not until June 25 that village officials announced the discovery of a zebra mussel in the lake by Springfield. And during a special meeting of the zebra mussel committee, Mayor Carol Waller said she dreaded the day this would come. She said, ``It’s bad news, but not the worst news. There’s no need for panic, we just have to deal with it.’’

Good admits it was probably inevitable that adult zebra mussels would find their way into the lake despite the best efforts of the village and others.

As time goes by, the number of zebra mussels in the lake are likely to increase. Dr. Tom Horvath, SUNY’s Director of Environmental Sciences and a world-renown expert on zebra mussels predicts it will only take a couple of years before they become a common site at the lake.

Because there is no known way to get rid of the zebra mussels, it is important to learn how to adapt to having them in the lake. We encourage lake shore property owners, lake users and those who would like to know more about zebra mussels to attend the informational meeting being held by the Otsego Lake Association on Aug. 25 at Thayer Farm Upland Interpretive Center at 9 a.m. And if you are an early bird, coffee will be served at 8:30 a.m.

Horvath says he will be talking about the biology of the mussels, the impacts the mussels will have on the lake and the lake’s users, the impacts the mussels may have in the future and the importance of maintaining the boat inspections that are already in place.

There will also be other topics and presentations at the meeting. They include a discussion of other exotic species that threaten the lake, an update on the Lakefront Park buffer strip project and a presentation of Lake Citizen Awards. The ``Smart Steps for Otsego Lake’’ publication will also be distributed.

It is a ``can’t miss’’ meeting.