Quagga/Zebra Mussel News

The following information is being forwarded on behalf of the US Bureau of Reclamation:

The US Bureau of Reclamation is looking for potential projects to be funded in the fiscal year 2019 (October-September). A variety of projects will be considered as long as they are mussel related in nature. The potential projects list will be consolidated and submitted to the Department of Interior by November 1. Proposals must be submitted no later than October 26. If your agency straddles different Reclamation regions, please ensure that you do not submit a duplicate request. Request can be submitted to multiple regions, by ensure it is for a different project.

Please provide the following criteria and information required to submit the project for consideration:

1. Project title
2. Brief description of the work to be done (2-3 sentences)
3. How long will it take (1 year, 2 years, 3 years)
4. QZAP (PDF) / DOI Mussel Initiative Commitments Category (PDF)
5. DOI Mussel Initiative Commitment Subcategory (PDF) (Safeguarding the West)
6. Funding amount requested
7. POC (Name, Email, Telephone)

If you are in the US Bureau of Reclamation Mid Pacific Region, please contact Stuart Angerer at (916) 978-5046. If you are in the US Bureau of Reclamation Lower Colorado River Region, please contact Heidi McMaster at (702) 293-8560. The deadline for proposal submissions is Friday, October 26, 2018.

The following information is being forwarded on behalf of the Western Governors' Association:

On July 12, The Western Governors’ Association launched the WGA Biosecurity and Invasive Species Initiative, the signature initiative of WGA Chair, Hawaii Governor David Ige. The Initiative will focus on the impacts that nuisance species, pests, and pathogens have on ecosystems, forests, rangelands, watersheds, and infrastructure in the west, and examine the role that biosecurity plays in addressing these risks.  The goal is to examine emerging issues in biosecurity and invasive species management in the West, and develop a set of policy recommendations, best practices, and technical tools to address those issues.

The Initiative will accomplish this goal, in part, through webinars and a series of workshops across the West. The dates, locations, topics, agendas, and registration links for the workshops are below: 

• Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Sept. 17-18, 2018. Topic: Prevention, Control, and Management of Established Species (Agenda (PDF)). Register here.
• Cheyenne, Wyoming, Oct. 11-12, 2018. Topic: WGA Working Lands Roundtable: Invasive Species and Restoration (Agenda (PDF)). Register here.
• Helena, Montana, Nov. 14, 2018. Topic: Early Detection and Rapid Response (Agenda (PDF)). Register here.
• Kona Coast, Hawaii, Dec. 9-10, 2018.  Topic: Biosecurity and Agriculture (Agenda (PDF)). Register here.

If you would like to attend any of the initiative workshops, or if you have any questions about the initiative more generally, please contact Bill Whitacre with WGA. Please feel free to share this information with your contacts.

From 2:00 pm, August 21, through approximately 6:00 am, August 25, the I-15 Border Protection Station operated by the California Department of Food and Agriculture will be non-operational, as the facilities are relocated from Yermo to Mountain Pass. During this timeframe, watercraft entering the state on I-15 will not receive inspection or decontamination. Water managers should be on high alert for incoming watercraft and diligent in their pre-launch inspections.

If quagga/zebra mussels are suspected:

1. Contact your regional California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Quagga/Zebra Mussel Scientist immediately for watercraft inspection and quarantine, if warranted. If your regional scientist cannot be reached, contact CDFW’s Law Enforcement Dispatch (Northern California – 916-358-1312; Southern California – 951-443-2944).
2. Do NOT collect or remove suspect mussels. Take photographs and include something in the photo for size reference (e.g. penny, ruler).
3. Collect information for the vehicle/trailer/watercraft (license plate/registration number, make/model, color, type of watercraft).
4. If a local ordinance exists that allows a local agency to require the vessel to remain onsite, contact local law enforcement to enforce until CDFW responds.

Should you have questions, please contact CDFW's Invasive Species Program at 866-440-9530 (Monday-Friday).