Invasive species cropping up again in Washington
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 5 months AGO
Inspectors look over a boat at the Clarkston boat check station. The WDFW is asking boaters to take careful steps to prevent invasive species from gaining a toehold in the state.
COURTESY PHOTO/WDFW
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | May 4, 2023 4:22 PM
SPOKANE — The boating season is officially underway in Washington state. To keep lakes, rivers, and other water bodies clean and beautiful, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking the public to take a few simple steps when launching boats or other vessels this season, according to a press release from the department.
The invasive species zebra mussels and quagga mussels are of particular concern, according to the WDFW. They clog pipes and mechanical systems of industrial plants, dams, water systems, utilities, locks, and hatcheries. The department’s enforcement program checks vessels for signs of those species and also for noxious non-native weeds, the release said.
To keep unwanted species from making a home in Washington, drivers are required by law to stop at one of WDFW’s four watercraft check stations when transporting a watercraft if it’s on the road they are traveling, according to the release. All vessels, from powerboats to kayaks to paddleboards must be checked. The inspection takes only a few minutes, the release said.
“Invasive mussels haven’t taken hold in Washington yet, and the Columbia River is the last major United States river that has not been impacted. But, it only takes one boat to ruin that,” wrote Captain Eric Anderson, WDFW aquatic invasive species enforcement program lead, in the release. “Efforts by WDFW and partners including irrigators, public utilities, and the boating industry have been successful in preventing the spread of these species to Washington to date.”
Watercraft check stations are clearly posted and located on Interstate 90 near the Washington-Idaho border and near Cle Elum. There is also one on U.S. 395 near the Tri-Cities, and another near the Port of Clarkston.
In addition to checking watercraft before going into the water, WDFW asks boat owners to:
• Clean, drain, and dry watercraft after removing them from the water
• Clean all equipment – waders, life vests, boat hulls and engines, trailers and other gear – by removing plants, algae or mud.
• Drain accumulated water back into the waterbody from which it came.
• Rinse all surfaces with potable water and let boats and gear fully dry before using them again
“Cleaning your boat, kayak or other watercraft now could mean less money spent later to eradicate invasive species that take hold,” wrote Justin Bush, executive coordinator for the Washington Invasive Species Council, in the release. “If we prevent them from establishing in Washington, then they won’t harm our native fish, restrict our recreation, or damage our shipping, hydropower, flood control and irrigation industries.”
More information on Washington invasive species can be found at InvasiveSpecies.wa.gov.
ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Endless battle
Noxious Weed Control Board works to keep invasive plants under control
MOSES LAKE — Some of the nastiest plants in Grant County were the topic of a class led by Jay Johnson, a consultant with the Grant County Noxious Weed Control Board, Tuesday. The Noxious Weed Control Board, as its name would suggest, is tasked with keeping weeds under control in Grant County. That’s not a small job; the board’s website lists 129 species of noxious weeds that are found around Grant County. A noxious weed is defined as an invasive, non-native plant that threatens agricultural crops, local ecosystems or fish and wildlife habitat, according to the Noxious Weed Control Board. Washington state law requires that these weeds be identified and their spread kept to a minimum, if not completely eradicated. “We’re one of those agencies a lot of people don’t really understand,” Johnson said. “We’re a county office and … our funding is tax-based assessment. When you get your tax bill and you look down at all the expenses that you pay for, there we are.”
BASIN EVENTS: Oct. 16-24
COLUMBIA BASIN — Whether you feel like shopping, crafting, learning or seeing a show, there’s something happening for you this week in the Basin. Oct. 16 ‘My Family (Mi Familia)’ screening Spanning three generations, “My Family (Mi Familia)” is a heartfelt drama that follows the Sánchez family as they build their lives in East Los Angeles. Through love, hardship, triumph, and sacrifice, the film explores the immigrant experience, the strength of family bonds, and the traditions that connect one generation to the next. Lowrider show and taco truck before the screening. Sponsored by Columbia Basin Allied Arts, EDUBS C/S and the Moses Lake Creative District. $12 per person. Doors open at 6 p.m., film begins at 7 p.m. at the Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium, 401 S. Balsam St. Tickets and info: www.cba-arts.org.
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