June 23, 2017

Congress Members Ask for Government Help Combating Columbia River Mussels

On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of congressional representatives from around the Pacific Northwest sent a letter to the secretary of the interior asking for assistance in preventing the spread of the invasive zebra mussel into the Columbia River system. The letter notes that the zebra mussel could cost the region around $500 million per year while compromising the river’s ecosystem, fisheries and hydropower infrastructure.

The letter calls on Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to make a generous sum of federal funds available in order to contain the spread of the mussels. That letter was signed by U.S. Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., Peter DeFazio, D-Ore, Mike Simpson, R-Idaho,, Kurt Schrader D-Ore., Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., Rick Larsen, D-Wash., Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., Raúl Labrador, R-Idaho, Adam Smith, D-Wash., Denny Heck, D-Wash., Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., Dave Reichert, R-Wash., and Derek Kilmer, D-Wash.

The letter notes that prior to November 2016, when invasive mussel larvae were detected in Montana, the Pacific Northwest was one of the only regions in North America without any known invasive quagga and zebra mussels. 

A portion of the letter reads, “Any further spread of invasive mussels would have devastating and extensive impacts on the economy, natural resources, and river operations throughout the region. In fact, if invasive mussel populations become established in the Pacific Northwest, it is estimated to cost our region $500 million every year just to manage the effects of an infestation.

“Therefore, we believe it is imperative that we work together to ensure that these species do not breach the Continental Divide and invade the Columbia River system. Failing to do so would likely result in widespread infestation throughout the Columbia River Basin. Once these mussels are introduced, there is no known way to eradicate them.”

The letter goes on to insist that cooperation from the Department of the Interior is essential in controlling the spread of invasive mussels through efforts such as establishing and operating watercraft inspection stations and invasive mussel monitoring.

“The earlier an invasion is detected, the more cost-effective and successful management efforts will be,” noted the letter to Secretary Zinke.

The letter goes on to note that mussels and their larvae are commonly spread by watercraft that jump from one body of water to another. In particular, the letter to Secretary Zinke notes that the most common point of contamination in the Pacific Northwest is Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Colorado, which is a dam reservoir under federal authority.

The letter went on to read, “In past years, members of Congress and states have requested that the Department institute mandatory inspection and decontamination for all vessels leaving infested federal waterbodies, unfortunately the Department has yet to implement this request. As you establish new priorities at the Department of Interior, we reiterate this request and ask for immediate attention to this serious economic and environmental issue.”


Source: The Chronicle