By Dominic Corollo
The House Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing adressing concerns over the impacts of invasive quagga mussels on Tuesday, June 24, 2008.
The hearing, entitled “The Silent Invasion: Finding Solutions to Minimize the Impacts of Invasive Quagga Mussels on Water Rates, Water Infrastructure and the Environment,†particularly focused on the threat the quagga mussels pose to water and power systems in the west.
The quaaga mussel is related the better-known zebra mussel. Both species are thought to have been introduced to North America around 1988 from ballast water in ships from Eastern Europe entering the Great Lakes. Since their introduction, both mussels have proliferated in the northern regions of the Midwest and have been documented in several western states, including California and Nevada. Most scientists believe that quaggas have spread to new water bodies from the hulls of recreational boats. In the right humidity and temperature range, the mussels can live up to a month out of water.
The quagga is a both a prolific feeder and breeder. They rapidly filter algae out of the water, thereby altering the food chain and severely impacting ecosystems. In addition to thriving off the nutrients in the water, the mussels rapidly reproduce and attach to both soft and hard surfaces, causing significant economic impact by clogging water intake structures, interfering with flows, decreasing pumping capacities, and impairing water quality. At the hearing, aquatic specialist Dr. Charles O’Neill of Cornell University reported to the Committee that the impact of the quagga mussel has been felt across 23 states to the magnitude of $1 billion and $1.5 billion. Dr. O’Neill explained that roughly one-half of the financial burden has been borne by the electric power generation industry, while the drinking water industry has paid out nearly one-third of the total cost.Â
Researchers are still trying to develop effective methods for controlling the quagga mussel where it has already been established. Thus, many states have implemented programs designed to increase public awareness and slow the spread of the mussel into new bodies of water. In 2002, Oregon established the Invasive Species Council to address issues relating invasive species and the Oregon State Marine Board has a Clean Marina Program that encourages boaters to thoroughly clean their boats to prevent the transfer of invasive species between water bodies. Fortunately, Oregon has yet to document the quagga anywhere in the state, but the mussel has already found its way into certain waters in California and Nevada.Â
The quagga was first documented in the west in January 2007 when it was discovered in Lake Mead. Since that time, the mussel has been recorded throughout the Lower Colorado system, including into California. The Statesman Journal reports that the Southern California Metropolitan Water Authority spent $6 million last spring cleaning freshwater aqueducts of quagga mussels.
While western states are beginning to ramp up efforts to slow the mussel’s proliferation, the Committee hearing highlights just how large of a problem the mussels are causing. Many people realize the destructive environmental effects of invasive species, but the effects the mussels are having on water systems are bringing this issue to the national level.
For people interested in learning more about invasive species, visit Oregon Invasive Species Council’s website at:   http://www.oregon.gov/OISC/ .  The Oregon Invasive Species Summit is scheduled for July 22, 2008. To see a short video feature about the quagga mussel see the Oregon Public Broadcasting website link at: http://www.opb.org/programs/ofg/videos/view/11-Quagga-Mussles For a special report about the quagga mussel by the Statesman Journal see: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080210/INVASIVE06/802100309/1034 For information regarding Oregon’s Clean Marina Program, see: http://www.boatoregon.com/OSMB/Clean/ANS.shtml
