Ag Affairs addresses "rock snot" and other invasive species

Senator Corder presented SCR101 to the House Committee on Agricultural affairs. The resolution highlights the threat of aquatic nuisance species to Idaho’s lakes and streams. Senator Corder specifically pointed out the threat of an invasive algae, Didymo, otherwise known as “rock snot,” which has decimated prized salmon spawning areas in New Zealand, and has recently been found in Priest River, likely from the contaminated felt soles of waders commonly worn by fly fishermen.

Senator Corder noted that herbicides are ineffective because of the lack of ability to maintain contact with the species in moving water.

“The best solution is to keep an invasive species from being introduced,” he said.
Amy Ferriter, ISDA. Invasive Species. Coordinator, gave the committee an update on efforts to stave off invasive species in Idaho waters such as quagga and zebra mussels.

Before January 2007, these organisms were not in the western United States. Now they’re in Lake Mead. Anything touching the water, including infrastructure in Hoover Dam, Parker Dam and Davis Dam, are covered shortly after immersion. Divers have to chip the organisms off on a regular basis.

This year is a bumper crop of quagga muscles at Lake Mead, Ferriter says. Boat owners are beginning to lift their boats out of the water for storage. Western states including Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana are still quagga free. Idaho set a trend in initiating sticker fees. Oregon and Wyoming are following our lead. Oregon is not allowed to do mandatory inspection stops, all of their inspection stations at boat ramps are voluntary. Our stops are roadside. Oregon does more expensive boat launch inspections. Washington has mandatory roadside blitzes as funding is available. The passport program has helped expedite boaters through the inspection stations.

Questionnaires show that every state except Delaware has sent boats to Idaho.
The large, moored boats that leave the state for the winter are the highest risk boats. Ferriter’s office is working with the department of transportation and training the port of entry inspectors.