Showing muscle on mussels
Arn Powell, left, with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, and Paul Deckon inspect a boat on Highway 53 near the state line on Tuesday. More mussel-fouled watercraft have been intercepted at inspection stations across the state this year than season-end totals for each of the previous five years. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Arn Powell, with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, inspects a boat on Highway 53 near the state line on Tuesday. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Mussels that threaten Idaho waterways come in many different sizes. (Photo courtesy of Idaho State Department of Agriculture)
There are 20 watercraft inspection stations throughout Idaho, including four locally, that aim to keep mussels out of Idaho waterways.
By BRIAN WALKER
Hagadone News Network
More mussel-fouled watercraft have been intercepted at inspection stations across the state this year before the heart of boating season than season-end totals for each of the previous five years.
Thirty-six watercraft with mussels have been intercepted at Idaho's 20 inspection stations and three roving stations out of more than 41,000 inspections so far this year compared to 31 for all of last year, 19 in 2016, 25 in 2015, 15 in 2014 and 12 in 2013.
This year's number is on pace to break the record of 57 in 2012. Idaho initiated monitoring efforts in 2010.
"The risk of quagga and zebra mussels spreading to Idaho is ever present," said Nick Zurfluh, with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture that spearheads the inspections.
"The ISDA makes adjustments to its strategic placement of inspection stations each year after reviewing the previous year's data."
Of the 36 finds this year, nine have been at the station on westbound Interstate 90 near the Rose Lake exit and one at the eastbound Huetter rest stop. Six of the discoveries, including the most-recent one on Friday, originated in Michigan.
An inspector, who declined to be identified out of fear of retaliation from boaters, said the driver during the Friday incident was among many who bypass the stations and signage without pulling in, drawing law enforcement in hot pursuit.
Other local stations are on Highway 53 near the state line and Highway 3 near Rose Lake. There have been more than 14,400 total inspections at the four local stations so far this year.
None of the 36 finds statewide this year have carried live mussels.
To date, Idaho has had no detections or confirmed mussel infestations in its waters, Zurfluh said.
"This is very important when considering the tremendous increase in prevention efforts in the Columbia River Basin, which is the last major watershed in the United States without mussels," Zurfluh said. "Regardless of where watercraft originate, the program looks at all out-of-state boats as high risk."
If mussels were to infest Idaho's waters as they have done in other states, it could cost the state nearly $100 million annually in damage and lost revenue, according to ISDA
There have been more than 500,000 inspections since the program began and 231 fouled watercraft.
Watercraft owners can reduce the risk of spreading invasive species by using three strategies:
- clean watercraft and equipment before leaving any water body;
- drain water from all equipment; and
- dry all vessel compartments.
All boaters must stop for mandatory inspection when traveling past an Idaho watercraft station during operating hours. Before launching on Idaho waters, all watercraft must have a current invasive species sticker, which is sold by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.
"ISDA’s inspection program has been working for a decade to prevent invasive aquatic mussels from entering Idaho," said ISDA Director Celia Gould. "However, private citizens remain our first – and best – line of defense. We see that the more educated the public is about the threat we face, the more they care and work to prevent moving invasive species."