Quagga Mussel Invasion

Snake River flows through a canyon in Idaho

Photo by Laura Seaman on Unsplash.

Have you heard about the quagga mussel invasion in Southern Idaho?

Here are three things you need to know right now:

  1. In September, quagga mussels were found in the Snake River. They pose a threat to water for drinking, energy, agriculture, recreation, and a variety of other uses.

  2. Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) has closed off public access to the Snake River between Niagara Springs and Twin Falls.

  3. Stay Out of the Mid-Snake River and help spread the word.

For more treatment and current closure information, visit idaho.gov/quagga.

On October 3, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) will begin implementing a copper-based treatment to eradicate quagga mussels in the Mid-Snake River area.

Why is treatment needed?

  • The presence of quagga mussels in the Snake River near Twin Falls has been confirmed by ISDA.

  • Quagga mussels quickly spread and clog pumps and pipes that deliver water for drinking, energy, agriculture, recreation, and a variety of other uses. Established quagga populations harm fish and wildlife habitat. The mussels also pose a major threat to the Columbia River Basin.

  • If not treated, quagga mussels have the potential to cost Idaho hundreds of millions of dollars, especially for irrigators, power users, and recreationalists.

  • There is a limited timeframe where a treatment option may be effective. It is essential for treatment to be implemented quickly before water flows increase or a quagga mussel population grows.

Where is this happening?

This is a dynamic situation – please see the latest closure map for more information. At Thousand Springs State Park, Box Canyon, Niagara Springs, and Crystal Springs Lake have been closed as part of the containment effort.

The treatment is expected to finish on October 13. ISDA, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, and USGS will be routinely monitoring the water to evaluate treatment effectiveness and product dissipation. To learn more about the treatment and ISDA’s plan visit, idaho.gov/quagga.

What can you do to help?

Stay off the water – While the response and treatment are implemented, access to the Mid-Snake River from Twin Falls Dam to Niagara Springs is CLOSED. It is essential to the public’s safety and to the future of the Snake River that the public stays completely out of the water. This includes any type of watercraft, pets, decoys, and anything else that could potentially be in the water. These closures are also critical to minimizing any potential movement of quagga mussels. 

Ashton Caldwell