Invasive Species Legislation Stalling in House

Legislation in Olympia creating the Aquatic Species Management Account is spinning it’s tires in the state House.  Chief Sponsor of the legislation Bruce Chandler told the Washington Ag Network the bill will set aside funds to remove aggressive invasive species, such as zebra and quagga mussels.  Chandler said not only are these species a threat to the recreation community and the overall Washington economy, they are a threat to many farmers across eastern Washington.

“And if they get totally out of control, they’ve been known to do damage to irrigation systems, they can clog pipes, they can destroy pipes, and they can even do damage to infrastructure like locks and to the dams on the Columbia River.”

Mussels are typically transported on boats, float planes, pump tucks and others..  He added there is no known predators, making it even more difficult to fight.  Chandler added the legislation is not getting much response in Olympia, primarily because people often don’t see the threat until it’s too late.

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