Increased Concern
Recent information regarding the potential costs for remediation and lost economic activity should Zebra and Quagga mussels (ZQA) become established in BC, reported interception of a mussel infested boat at the Golden Inspection station and press reports of ZQA being found in the Snake River (a tributary of the Columbia River) in Idaho have led to increased concern regarding the potential for mussels becoming established in the Shuswap.
A 2023 report posted on the BC Ministry of Environment website (click here for report) updates earlier information (2013) on the estimated costs for maintenance or cleanup of infrastructure and waterbodies should ZQ mussels become established in BC waters. In a 2013 study, the annual cost was estimated at $53.3 million dollars. The most recent report pegs the annual cost at between $60 and $129.1 million dollars.
These costs include treatment of infrastructure and both reduced economic activity and water quality. It does not include any estimate of the losses from recreational fishing. The report indicates that the estimated costs for treatment of infrastructure are somewhat lower than previously reported due to emergence of new treatment technologies. However, the potential losses due to reduced economic activity and reduced water quality were not included in the earlier study. Never-the-less, should ZQM become established, the cost to the taxpayer, annually, would be significant. These potential costs should be judged against annual costs of $2.5 to 3.5 million for monitoring boats at BC borders. Any improvements in the effectiveness of monitoring work at the current, and perhaps new, stations would seem to be very cost effective.
Some good news – the Conservation Service reported that a ZQM fouled boat was caught at the Golden Inspection and decontaminated. An important finding was that even the internal workings of the outboard motor were contaminated with mussels. However, this finding also points to the need for increased vigilance at the inspection stations – including 24/7 staffing so that boats like this do not pass through the monitoring network.
Finally, and very concerning, are news reports of the detection of Zebra and Quagga mussels in the Snake River in Idaho, a tributary to the Columbia River. The reports indicated that the infestation has been treated with a copper compound, but further monitoring will be needed to determine if the treatment has been successful in eradicating the infestation. As a result of these findings, both the Okanogan Basin Water board in BC and the Alberta government have been lobbying for a ban on boats from the area being brought across the border into Canada from the US.
We will keep following the press reports.