BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho officials intercepted 24 boats contaminated with invasive zebra or quagga mussels during the last boating season, and Washington decontaminated 20 boats. The boats were caught as part of both states’ efforts to keep the mussels from fouling Idaho and Washington waters, but the numbers have officials on both sides of the border concerned.
Idaho Department of Agriculture Director Celia Gould told The Spokesman-Review (http://bit.ly/u18jFO ) that she believes the federal government needs to do more to stop the mussels from spreading from federal waters to states in the Pacific Northwest.
Several states have sent letters in the past three years to the National Park Service asking for help. The park service at Lake Mead is now sending notifications to invasive species programs when there are boats bound for their states.
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Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesman.com
