More quagga mussels detected in Idaho’s Snake River near Twin Falls

Clark Corbin, Idaho Capital Sun

TWIN FALLS (Idaho Capital Sun) — Officials pinch nan Idaho State Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that they person detected caller quagga mussels successful nan Snake River adjacent Twin Falls.

Tuesday’s announcement arrived almost precisely 1 twelvemonth aft authorities officials announced they detected nan invasive type successful Snake River for nan first time successful September 2023. In consequence to first detecting nan mussels, authorities officials utilized a copper based chemic called Natrix successful nan Snake River successful an effort to termination disconnected nan mussels, nan Sun antecedently reported. 

Until this astir caller discovery of quagga mussels, authorities h2o sampling was antagonistic for quagga mussels successful 2024, the Sun antecedently reported. 

“While we are incredibly disappointed to spot immoderate confirmations, we cognize that (seed) disease eradication is seldom 1 and done,” Idaho State Department of Agriculture Director Chanel Tewalt said successful a written connection Tuesday. “We person made important progress, and now we must attraction connected nan adjacent shape of eradication. (The Idaho State Department of Agriculture) and nan galore partners who person helped successful countless ways will proceed to push for afloat eradication.”

The quagga mussels were detected successful nan Shoshone Falls pool, Pillar Falls and nan Twin Falls Reservoir down nan Twin Falls hydroelectric facility, authorities officials said Tuesday.

Quagga mussels are an invasive, nonnative type that reproduces rapidly. State officials pinch nan Idaho State Department of Agriculture said eradicating nan mussels is simply a privilege because they are tin of clogging pipes, which could airs a threat to drinking water, irrigation, agriculture, recreational tourism and hydroelectric power generation.

In a connection released Tuesday, Idaho Gov. Brad Little said nan authorities is fortunate because of its invasive type programs and authorities investments successful those programs. During nan 2024 legislative session, legislators approved $6.6 cardinal successful nan fiscal twelvemonth 2025 fund to conflict invasive species, the Sun antecedently reported. 

“Idaho had nan foresight years agone to commencement investing successful nan resources needed to observe and eliminate invasive species, and that finance is paying off,” Little said successful a written statement. “I want to convey my partners successful nan Idaho Legislature for making this happen. With an effective, robust invasive type programme successful place, we are acold amended disconnected coming than we were moreover a twelvemonth agone erstwhile quagga mussels were first detected successful nan Snake River.

“One of our top occurrence stories arsenic a authorities has been nan coordinated, accelerated consequence to quagga mussels past fall, but we knew we would beryllium connected watch for a play of 5 years. I person awesome assurance successful nan squad astatine nan Idaho State Department of Agriculture and their many, galore partners to proceed to tackle this problem pinch minimal disruption to nan public.”