The Idaho Department of Agriculture is asking the general public to remain out of the water within the Centennial Waterfront Park space in Twin Falls because it has confirmed the presence of quagga mussel larvae within the Snake River.
In a press launch issued Tuesday, the division stated a number of samples of quagga mussel at larval life levels had been discovered within the space by the agriculture division’s early detection monitoring program.
“These invasive pests will clog pipes that deliver water for drinking, energy, agriculture and recreation,” Idaho Gov. Brad Little stated at a press convention Tuesday. “This is a very high priority for Idaho and for me, given the gravity of the risk. If we are not successful, an unchecked spread – which we are doing all we can to stop – has the potential to cost Idaho hundreds of millions of actual and indirect costs.”
Little stated he’s grateful the agriculture division caught the mussels early on and has already carried out a “robust response” to take away the invasive species.
According to the press launch, that is the primary time a fast response plan has been put into motion for quagga mussels in Idaho. The division is implementing a fast response plan that features notifying impacted entities, implementing containment measures, conducting delimiting surveys and evaluating for potential therapy choices.
The division is asking for the general public’s cooperation to remain out of the water at Centennial Waterfront Park as employees works to comprise the mussel inhabitants. Boat ramps and public access to the water are closed quickly.
“Our Invasive Species Program is prepared to respond to these findings quickly in an effort to contain mussel population growth in such a vulnerable area,” agriculture division director Chanel Tewalt stated within the press launch. “We greatly appreciate the public’s cooperation and plan on opening the area as soon as possible to minimize the impact to businesses that rely on the Snake River.”
All watercraft customers are inspired to comply with the “Clean, Drain and Dry” actions for watercraft and tools earlier than getting into and after leaving Idaho water our bodies. The agriculture division watercraft inspection stations are additionally working throughout the state and obligatory for watercraft customers to cease at.
For updates on the difficulty and to view a map of the impacted space, go to the motion plan web page on the agriculture division web site.
