ISDA: As Weather Warms Don’t Transport Aquatic Invasive Species

With weather warming up across the Pacific Northwest, the state of Idaho has relaunched their watercraft inspection stations across the Gem state. These check points are located at busy intersections in an effort to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species such as muscles and weeds.

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture’s Lloyd Knight said they continually look for weeds, including Eurasian water milfoil, hydrilla and curly leaf pondweed, which can have a big, negative impact on the environments of lakes, reservoirs, rivers and much more across the state. He said if these invasive aquatic weeds are allowed to set up shop in Idaho waterways, it will not only make recreation difficult, if not impossible.

“It will [also] crowd out any of the native species that are there, and it will become a monoculture of just that invasive plant, which can obviously impact all of the other aquatic life that is there. It can also impact irrigation diversions or drinking water diversions it can impact those systems as well.”

Knights said it’s important that outdoor lovers and recreationalists be proactive moving from one body of water to another.

“Take a minute, make sure your boats are cleaned, drained and dry, make sure they aren’t carrying in any weeds or any other aquatic hitchhikers, make sure your ATVs and that kind of equipment are cleaned and not moving anything from one place to another.  And just be diligent in what you are seeing.  If you have somewhere that you go, it’s your favorite place, and you notices something new and different, say something.”

If you have a question about invasive species in Idaho, visit the ISDA Website.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia.com