Quagga Mussel Report - Saturday Summary 2/21/09

The Saturday Summary is a weekly roundup of some of ICIE’s activities in and around the Idaho Legislature. Staffing limits mean we can’t cover every meeting. If there’s an item of interest to you at an upcoming meeting of one of the environment or agriculture committees, let us know and we’ll try to cover it. Agendas are available at www.state.id.us. Click on “Legislative” and click on “Calendars and agendas.”

The invasive Quagga Mussel was the topic of a special meeting on Thursday of the Environment and Common Sense Task Force. Representative Eric Anderson, who co-chairs the committee with Senator Curt McKenzie, introduced a video produced by Oregon Public Television which traces the species from Lake Michigan to Lake Mead. Representatives from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and private industry provided their insight. The information is alarming. The tiny shellfish destroys habitat and boats. A single female the size of a fingernail produces an estimated 1 million eggs each mating season. There are an estimated three trillion Quagga in Lake Michigan, with an estimated 700,000 per square meter. They are spreading to other bodies of water throughout the east. It has found its way west and is now present in lakes in California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and Utah. The species was first recorded in Lake Mead in January of 2007 and is now clogging intake valves in Hoover Dam. Experts say it is not a matter of whether the mussel will be introduced to Idaho waters, but when.

The financial impact to Idaho, once the species is introduced, is projected at $91 million annually in increased maintenance. The estimate doesn’t include impacts to agriculture and recreation.
The number one method of transport of the Quaqqa Mussel is trailers and boats. Once the species is introduced, there is very little that can be done. An aggressive public education effort, the implementation of boat rinsing stations and strict regulation of recreational vehicles are required.

Private industry is looking at developing pesticides that are not toxic to other wildlife, with little success. Idaho is hosting a “Quagga drill” at the end of April in Lucky Peak reservoir, but the state plan focuses primarily on prevention, monitoring and education.

Industry experts recommend quarantining lakes where the species has been introduced, and installing wash stations at every boarder. The wash stations utilize high pressure water at 140 degrees. The mussel can also be killed by exposing it to air for five days. Bleach water and chemicals have limited success because the mussel’s ability to be self contained in its shell for long periods of time. An estimated 125 to 150 wash stations at every border crossing and at each body of water would have a significant effect at limiting the mussels’ access to Idaho waters. The stations cost an estimated $50,000 apiece.