Biologists in the Great Lakes region and throughout Europe have tried unsuccessfully for decades to rid their waters of the small but highly destructive zebra mussel using methods such as electrocution, radio waves, chemicals, and even trying to freeze them.

The dime-sized mollusks have wreaked havoc on regional water systems, causing billions of dollars in damage. So when they were discovered in a small quarry in Prince William County in 2002, state biologists immediately went into panic mode. They used a potassium mixture to destroy them.