BOISE, Idaho — Idaho is continuing its battle against the invasive quagga mussel which appeared in state waters in late September 2023.
A news release from Gov. Brad Little's office on Wednesday said he signed Senate Bill 1372 into law, providing close to $6.6 million in funding to the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA). The funding will allow the department to continue monitoring and preparing for potential future responses.
“An unchecked spread of quagga mussels has the potential to cost Idaho hundreds of millions of dollars in direct and indirect costs," Little said.
In October, the ISDA treated a 6-mile stretch of the Snake River near Twin Falls to kill off the invasive quagga mussels, first detected in the river in September.
The Snake River treatment is part of the state's plan to eradicate the invasive quagga mussels, which threaten the Snake River's food chain and Idaho's waterways.
High fish mortality from the quagga mussel treatment was expected because the aggressive copper-based formula prevents the fish from taking oxygen out of the water and into their bloodstream.
ISDA previously told KTVB they saw high mortality in large-scale suckers, northern pikeminnow, yellow perch, and white sturgeon.
A complete summary of Idaho Fish and Game's survey on quagga mussel treatment's impact on fish populations can be seen here.
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