Idaho residents deserve better plan to stop exotic invaders

Last spring, the Idaho Conservation League worked with North Idaho legislators to help pass the Invasive Species Act of 2008. The Act places emphasis on keeping exotic invaders out of our lakes so that we can avoid contentious battles about how to eradicate an invading species after it has already made its home in our lakes.

It's the old adage of "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

The law was intended to prevent the infestation of state waterways by exotic freshwater mussels that can destroy aquatic ecosystems, clog pipes and ruin boat motors. Such an infestation could cost the state millions of dollars and threaten the very things that make North Idaho's lake country a great place to live.

But despite the good intentions of the law, the subsequent rulemaking under the Department of Agriculture has failed to meet the needs of Idaho.

To understand what went wrong, first we need a bit of background. In Idaho, before a law really has any teeth, the responsible agency must write rules to implement the law. So far, the invasive species rules drafted by the Idaho Department of Agriculture have failed to put forth the sort of regulatory structure needed to protect Idaho.

Originally, this rule was crafted as a comprehensive management strategy outlining exactly how the agency would ensure that invasive species did not get into our lakes. We sought to have the how's, the where's and the when's clearly spelled out.  However, the final version released by the agency last month deleted all the particulars and is simply a ban on the possession and transportation of invasive species in the state.

While it's necessary to make it illegal to possess and transport quagga and zebra mussels, just announcing that it's illegal is not a plan for heading off an infestation. The rule fails to outline what the agency is going to do to enforce this law, how the agency is going to monitor for invaders and, critically, and how and where boats will be inspected to ensure that exotic species don't hitch a ride into our lakes.

As weak as this rule is, the Idaho Conservation League is going to support it as a first step.  But alone, this rule will not do anything to protect our lakes from invasive species. Meanwhile, quagga and zebra mussels continue to find their way onto boat props and hulls in our neighboring states, and may soon cross our borders into Idaho. And, because the Department of Agriculture failed to develop a plan of action, the state still has no plan to stop them.  

The ball now has bounced back in the Legislature's court. Without some sort of legislation to provide funding for the creation of check stations and training programs, it's uncertain if any real protection will come from the law passed in 2008.