Monitoring for invasive mussels ramping up

OLYMPIA–If invasive freshwater mussels take hold in Washington, officials estimate it would cost more than $100 million each year to keep our power and water infrastructure running, in addition to causing extensive ecological damage such as impeding salmon recovery and fish passage. $3.62 million in new funding from the State Legislature and federal partners that begins July 1 will allow WDFW to increase monitoring for harmful quagga and zebra mussels. Learn more in our blog post.

Quagga and zebra mussels are considered the most economically damaging aquatic organisms to invade the United States, and they showed up in Idaho last year. We also have information available on how to clean, drain, and dry watercraft to avoid spreading invasive mussels.

On the aquatic invasive species front in western Washington, the WDFW published a new Wild Washington environmental education lesson plan for middle school students titled "Green Crab Alert: Invasion in Washington's waters." This "mini unit" is certified by the Office of Superintendent of Public Education and supplements the state's OpenSci Education unit 7.5 Ecosystem Dynamics: "How does changing an ecosystem affect what lives there?" Additional updates on trapping and management of invasive green crabs are available on our webpage.

-Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife