|
As most people know quagga mussels have been identified in the Snake River from Shoshone Falls to Twin Falls by Idaho Dept of Agriculture (ISDA). Idaho has had a monitoring system in place for the last 15 years. The monitoring is conducted primarily by state staff in cooperation with the tribes, cities and Idaho Power. The state has inspected over 1 million boats and 100,000 alone in 2023. They also have been doing water sampling. First the veligers (microscopic larvae) were found in Sept 2023. They are invisible in the water column to the eye. The adult mussels are a “D” shaped bivalves the size of a thumbnail that attach to hard surfaces such as propellers, power generators, water delivery systems and damage fisheries. Divers found a single adult mussel in the mud below Shoshone Falls. The mussel was then enclosed in netting and returned to the water as a tool to monitor their treatment efforts.
ISDA contacted all of the possible stakeholders- all users of water- for their input. Infestation of quagga mussels in the river has far reaching implications in both manpower, environmental damage and expense. Hydro is 40% of Idaho Power’s energy source and there are over 2 million acres of irrigated farmlands on the plain. Quaggas can clog pipes that deliver water for drinking, irrigation, energy, recreation ad many other uses. Mussels are highly competitive, tenacious and can create monocultures that can affect or eliminate our diverse aquatic biology and consequences can be grave, costing hundreds of millions of dollars to Idaho residents and ruin a vibrant recreational resource.
The Snake River closure was updated in December, and now includes from Pillar Falls to the Twin Falls dam, upstream from Shoshone Falls. Access below Pillar to Yingst Grade (Broken Bridge) is through Centennial Park where a decontamination station is located and open from 8a to 6p daily.
Once the treatment plan was ready, treatment began in October 2023. Using copper based Natrix, a ten-day treatment schedule was applied. A difficult to reach stretch from Shoshone Falls to Pillar Falls was done by Idaho Power through the power plant. The test mussel was checked for mortality and dead veliger shells were also confirmed. Monitoring will continue for five more years.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
1. Stay out of closure areas as they are announced until further notice.
2. Clean Drain and Dry- if you have watercraft between Pillar Falls and Yingst Grade, mandatory inspection and decontamination are required. Included are boats, kayaks, paddleboats, oars, waders, lifejackets, fishing gear, buckets, nets and other items. Don’t attempt to decontaminate yourself.
Remember that mandatory watercraft inspection is required in the entire state of Idaho, and its in all of our interests for everyone to comply. We have world class fishing in Eastern Idaho, lets all do our part to keep it that way.
Author: Mary Van Fleet
Board Member: Henrys Lake Foundation
| 
