A new report from the U.S. Department of the Interior details progress on more than 40 action items intended to help deal with the threat of invasive species — particularly quagga and zebra mussels — to U.S. waters.
Safeguarding the West from Invasive Species summarizes progress since June 2017 to prevent, contain and control invasive mussels in the West.
The action items arose from a process that began in the spring of 2017 with the Western Governors’ Association, states, tribes and other federal agencies. In June 2017, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced a set of actions DOI is undertaking in conjunction with others to protect western waters from the economic and ecological impacts of invasive mussels.
Quagga and zebra mussels cause substantial impacts to water infrastructure and aquatic ecosystems and threaten power generation, water supply, fisheries and recreation, the report says.
Each action item is led by a specific agency, such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Geological Survey or National Park Service. The report is color coded to indicate action items that are complete, in progress, on hold temporarily or refocused.
