Quagga Mussel Alert in the Magic Valley
What is a Quagga Mussel
Magic Valley of Idaho has been invaded by Quagga Mussells which has lead to many closures of our river parks, lakes and reservoirs. Alert from KMVT News Quagga Mussel Alert and KLIX Alert
What is a Quagga Mussels and where did they originate? “Quagga mussels are a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusc in the family Dreissenidae. Native to the Dnieper River in Ukraine, they were accidentally introduced into the Great Lakes of North America in the late 1980s, probably in the ballast water of cargo ships.”
Where do they live? “Quagga mussels are filter feeders and can live in a wide range of habitats, including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. They are capable of surviving in water with a low oxygen content and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. Quagga mussels have a high reproductive rate and can rapidly colonize new habitats. A female quagga mussel can produce up to one million eggs per year.”
How do they move from one body of water to another? “The larvae (called glochidia) attach to the gills of fish, where they develop into juvenile mussels. Once they reach a certain size, they drop off the fish and settle to the bottom of the water body, where they continue to grow. Quagga mussels can have a major impact on the ecosystem where they live. They can reduce the clarity of the water by filtering out large amounts of plankton and other small particles. This can affect the food chain and the abundance of fish. Quagga mussels can also attach to hard surfaces, such as pipes and boat hulls, and clog them. How long can quagga mussels live out of water? Quagga mussels can survive out of water for up to 30 days, as long as they are kept moist. Once they dry out, they will die.”
What are some ways to destroy them? “Ten to fifteen parts per thousand (ppt) of lethal salt is estimated to be present in quagga and zebra mussels as a conservative measure of lethal salt concentration. The average salinity in the ocean is 35 ppt. The length of time the salt water must be exposed to kill the mussels is unknown.”
Read more about Quagga Mussels Here
I know this an inconvenience for us locals but I know Idaho Agriculture Department and Chanel Tewalt(leader) is giving this the attention it needs.
Thanks for the info.