State officials quickly respond to quagga mussel discovery
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - The recent discovery of quagga mussel larvae in the Snake River by the Twin Falls area has prompted a quick response from Idaho officials.
The Idaho State Department of Agriculture says its Rapid Response plan has a few legs to it that are working concurrently. One is to conduct a lot more surveys and samples to pinpoint the size and scope of the infestation.
They will also identify control and treatment options once the extent of the infestation is determined.
"As we check off boxes and try to define the population, that we can better define what our options are for containment control," says Lloyd Knight, Deputy Director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture.
Another leg of the operation is help from the public in containing the quagga mussels, which includes emphasizing the importance of the Clean, Drain, and Dry message already implemented by the Department.
"We've always had in our messaging for this program for the past 15 years, a message of clean drain dry. Whenever you visit a water body and it doesn't matter if it's in a kayak or a paddle board or motorized boat or whatever, to make sure folks clean, drain dry their equipment, their watercraft when they're done recreating."
Idaho Fish and Game is also involved in the mitigation efforts. They have temporarily closed water access to the public in spots along the Snake River near Twin Falls effective Sept. 21.
The closure extends from Shoshone Falls downstream to the Highway 46 bridge across the Snake River north of Buhl. The closures are intended to contain the quagga mussel larvae.
