Interior Department releases report
on fight against invasive mussels |
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March 17, 2018 |
(We recently published a couple of stories
about invasive zebra and quagga muscles.
As this article just appeared on the same topic,
we thought we would include it here also).
From the Columbia Basin
Bulletin, published here with
permission
The U.S. Department of the Interior has released
a report highlighting the progress made in the
fight against invasive zebra and quagga mussels,
which can impair the delivery of water and
power, diminish boating and fishing, and
devastate ecosystem health.
The report (which can be found at this link:--
https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/safeguarding_the_west_progress_report_february_2018_final.pdf)
comes after Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke
announced in June a set of initiatives to
protect western ecosystems and hydroelectric
facilities from the destructive species through
continued collaboration with western governors
as well as federal, state, and tribal agencies.
“I am pleased to share progress made on honoring
those commitments,” said Zinke. “There is more
work to do, and Interior is committed to
continuing our efforts. With the busy boating
season approaching, it is imperative that we are
vigilant in taking measures to prevent the
spread of invasive mussels and other aquatic
invasive species.”
In Fiscal Year 2017, Interior spent $8.6 million
to address invasive mussels nationwide. This
includes an additional $1 million for the Bureau
of Reclamation to establish watercraft
decontamination stations, provide educational
materials, and continue monitoring efforts.
Interior is currently working on more than four
dozen actions to address invasive mussels
including preventing the spread of the species
to uninfested waters, such as those in the
Columbia River basin, and containing and
controlling them where they are established,
such as in Lake Powell and the Lower Colorado
River region.
Some highlights since June, says an Interior
press release, include:
-- Convening federal, state, tribal, and
nongovernmental groups to identify options to
strengthen watercraft inspection and
decontamination programs at infested waters,
such as at Lake Havasu as well as Lake Mead,
where the Bureau of Reclamation committed to
spending another $150,000 this year to bolster
efforts.
-- In the Pacific Northwest, the U.S. Geological
Survey, Pacific States Marine Fisheries
Commission, and Columbia River Basin partners
are mobilizing to improve regional coordination
of monitoring efforts to ensure that they are
strategic and effective.
-- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National
Marine Fisheries Service, and Pacific States
Marine Fisheries Commission are leading planning
efforts to expedite Endangered Species Act
Section 7 consultations to ensure a quick
response if invasive mussels are detected.
-- The Bureau of Reclamation launched a prize
competition seeking innovative solutions to
eradicate invasive mussels from large
reservoirs, lakes, and rivers in a cost
effective and environmentally sound manner.
The Department requested $11.9 million in Fiscal
Year 2018, including an additional $3.4 million
for the Bureau of Reclamation to expand on these
and other efforts to prevent, contain, and
control invasive mussels. Approximately $3.1
million is in the process of being released
under the continuing resolution to support
federal, state, and tribal activities such as
the purchase and operation of watercraft
inspection and decontamination stations in the
Lower Colorado River basin, development of
facility vulnerability assessments to determine
risk for critical infrastructure in the Columbia
River basin, and increasing capacity for the
Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribe at Flathead
Lake for their Aquatic Invasive Species program,
said Interior in a press release.
First introduced to the Great Lakes in the
1980s, zebra and quagga mussels spread outward
via recreational watercraft being transported to
other regions of the country. Infestations clog
power plant, industrial, and public water supply
intakes and pipes, dramatically change aquatic
ecosystems, and require substantial investments
to control. They are among the many invasive
species causing economic and ecological and harm
to human health across the United States. |
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