The mollusks have invaded water basins around the US, but not yet gained a foothold in the Columbia River Basin
Bye for now: Quagga mussels are under control in the Snake River, for the time being. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
By Kendra Chamberlain. August 21, 2024. It’s been nearly a year since the dreaded quagga mussel was first detected in Idaho’s Snake River near Shoshone Falls.
The discovery swung the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) into a frenzy to eradicate the tiny creatures from its waters.
The state spent some $3 million last year to dump a copper-based treatment into the river in three sections, killing virtually everything in its path—aquatic life, plants and fish alike.
But the treatment plan—considered one of the most aggressive ever undertaken in the United States—seems to have worked.
So far, no new quagga mussels have been detected, as reported by the Idaho Statesman .
The tiny quagga mussels are a danger to the Columbia River Basin. The mollusks are aggressively invasive, coating every surface they come in contact with and wreaking environmental and economic havoc.