Mussels Prompt Plea for Emergency Funding

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) The zebra mussel looks like it might be tasty with a splash of garlic butter, but Utah wildlife official Jim Karpowitz says it could devastate the state's lakes:

"One of the biggest impacts is on water delivery systems," says Karpowitz. "They can plug up intake valves, pipelines, canals, hydroelectic plants. It's estimated that in the midwest right now they're spending between a billion and a billion and a half dollars a year dealing with mussel.s"

Karpowitz is asking the Utah legislature to approve an emergency appropriation of one-point-six million dollars for a campaign to prevent zebra mussels from infecting Utah water. Wildlife officials are particularly worried because the mussels have already been detected in Lake Mead - which is a very popular destination for boaters that also visit Utah lakes. Zebra mussels travel from lake to lake in the holding tanks of boats and are nearly impossible to eradicate once detected. Karpowitz says the money would fund an aggressive awareness campaign and a team of enforcers to inspect boats on loading docks.

"The problem is there's no money in our budget for it now," says Karpowitz. "It's going to be a huge effort and take a significant outlay of personnel, time and money. And we need to address it not just for the recreation aspect but for anyone who enjoys water, really."

Karpowitz is rearranging his wildlife resources budget to start the prevention effort this summer. But before he moves ahead, he needs a promise that lawmakers will fill the gap with a supplemental appropriation when they meet in regular session next January. The only other option is for the Governor to call the Legislature into special session to authorize the funding.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW