Staff writer
Boat with invasive species was put in at Blackwell Island
KOOTENAI COUNTY -- A boat that says HELLO on the side may have introduced dangerous mussels to Idaho waters.
The boat that had been in mussel-infested Lake Mead and was apprehended in Spokane in May was not completely decontaminated and was put in the Spokane River at Blackwell Island, state and water quality officials said Wednesday.
"We discovered that the owner had put it in the Spokane River after (the seizure)," said Kate Wilson of the Pend Oreille Basin Commission.
The Washington boat recently came into question again when it was found at Idaho's Oldtown inspection station that mussels remained on the inside of the boat after the first decontamination.
"The boat keys were not available (in May to flush the engine and surface water intakes)," Wilson said. "Unfortunately, we do not know if there were live mussels remaining after the first cleaning. It is likely any remnants (of mussels) would be dead as the owner had let the boat sit for at least two weeks after the May cleaning."
But with the uncertainty, the state has implemented additional measures downstream of Blackwell Island.
"We are adding additional sampling downstream of Blackwell Island immediately because of the possibility that we had a launch of this boat in the Spokane River," said Lloyd Knight of the Department of Agriculture. "The finding of shell fragments and possible adult mussels in the inner workings of the boat may be a cause for concern. That is why the boat was impounded and decontaminated further (at Oldtown)."
Zebra and quagga mussels can easily multiply and clog propellers and pipes.
Knight said there's a lack of knowledge regarding the survivability of mussels in the propulsion and other "inside" workings of boats.
"We wanted to be confident that those internal workings were flushed and decontaminated," Knight said.
Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin, who has followed the program closely, said his research indicates the vilegars (larvae) can live out of water for several weeks, not just a couple.
"This fall we may have a good indication (of the survivability)," Larkin said. "This, for me, is a very hot-button topic, and I hope some legislators will get a wake-up call."
Larkin said he wonders if the state is trying to downplay the mussel find because he found out about it through Wilson's talk to the Post Falls Rotary last week.
Idaho has had a monitoring program in place that was enhanced this year with additional funding from invasive species sticker purchases.
The state in early July set up boat inspection stations throughout the state targeting mussels from entering Idaho water. Some of those stations are slated to close after Labor Day; others in October. Water watchers hope to have inspection training seminars so volunteers can add another line of defense to complement the state's program.
In addition to Oldtown, local inspection stations are at the eastbound Huetter rest area on Interstate 90, Farragut State Park, on U.S. 95 near Athol and Cocolalla Lake.
Knight said the catch at Oldtown was an example of how the inspections are working to stave off invasive threats.
"The inspector was suspicious enough to do a detailed inspection, with special focus on this boat because it was presented as a boat with Nevada registration, that had been in Lake Mead and the boat did not carry a certificate of decontamination," Knight said.
Larkin said it's unfortunate that some inspection stations will close after Labor Day. But state officials say it's impossible to have year-round monitoring due to limited funding and they're relying on the general public to do its part on educating and inspecting.
darth vader wrote on Aug 28, 2009 1:55 PM:
You poor dummies! "