Quagga/Zebra Inspections

 Boat-inspection and decontamination stations are now up and running at locations near Idaho’s borders throughout the state.  Officials from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) announced Thursday that an effort to prevent the introduction of invasive species, including quagga and zebra mussels, is underway.

ISDA officials have been working swiftly to get watercraft inspection stations in place to implement the Invasive Species Fund Program passed by the 2009 Idaho Legislature. The objective is to prevent quagga and zebra mussels – prolific non-native mussels that destroy aquatic ecosystems, clog pipes and damage other infrastructure – from contaminating Idaho’s pristine lakes, rivers and reservoirs. Inspection stations are located in areas where high boat traffic is expected.  Idaho’s strategy is to inspect as many motorized and non-motorized  watercraft as possible before they launch in Idaho waterways.  All boats that have been in contaminated water or have visible signs of the aquatic invaders must be decontaminated to prevent invasive species from spreading into Idaho waters. Quagga mussels currently infest waterbodies in Nevada, Colorado, California, Arizona and Utah and many waterbodies in the Great Lakes area.

Idaho USDA official Lloyd Knight says so far…so good in terms of inspections.