SANDPOINT — County commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding between Bonner County Sheriff’s Office and Idaho State Department of Agriculture for watercraft inspection stations.  

According to Invasive Species of Idaho, watercraft inspections are Idaho’s first line of defense against the spread of zebra and quagga mussels, especially considering a new threat emerging in southern Idaho — quagga mussel larvae were discovered in the Snake River in 2023, Idaho’s first finding of an invasive species.  

Quagga and Zebra mussel invasions can cause great impacts to ecosystems, clogging water intake structures, killing native mussel species and causing the mortality of thousands of birds (recorded in the Great Lakes).  

The MOU outlines that ISDA will provide the sheriff’s office with funding to provide all necessary personnel, equipment, supplies and supervision to staff three watercraft inspection stations while following the Idaho Invasive Species inspection protocol until Oct. 31.  

ISDA will pay law enforcement up to $153,900 over four equal installments, with a 2024 carryover amount of $19,093.59 being deducted from the first payment. 

The Idaho Invasive Species inspection protocol “governs the designation, inspection, permitting, decontamination, recordkeeping and enforcement of regulated invasive species in Idaho,” according to the ISDA book.  

Watercraft inspection stations can be found at Interstate 90 (Fourth of July Pass), Highway 53 (Hauser Lake), Rose Lake and Huetter.