Idaho Reports first reported this item on Thursday.
BOISE, ID After two years of intensive treatment in the Snake River, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture said that it has not yet found any quagga mussels two-thirds of the way through the summer.
However, it wasn’t until late September in both 2023 and 2024 that the microscopic mussel veligers were found in the water close to Twin Falls. In both years, ISDA used a copper-based solution to treat the contaminated river.
Snake River monitoring is still a high priority and is being carried out continuously. According to an ISDA press release, long-term monitoring is necessary to ascertain the entire impact of therapies, even though early negative results are encouraging.
According to the press statement, the department has taken more than 200 negative samples from the impacted area so far this season.
According to the department, this year it has taken over 2,500 water samples throughout the state to check for quagga mussels.
On April 15, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission lifted its ban on hunting, fishing, and trapping in the Snake River near Twin Falls. September 29, 2023, was the date of the closure.
To stop aquatic invasive species from spreading, every watercraft entering or traveling around the state must be dry, clean, and drained.
Every boat entering or leaving the Snake River segment between Broken Bridge (Yingst Grade) and Hansen Bridge must go through a required inspection before launching and a decontamination after leaving.
ISDA reports that more than 16,361 inspections have been carried out this year at the Centennial Waterfront Park, Shoshone Falls, and Twin Falls Reservoir check stations.
According to the department, our roving personnel and roadside watercraft inspection stations have performed over 112,479 inspections. We are on course to surpass our 2024 record of 157,356 inspections.
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