Zebra mussels were discovered in the United States in 1980, more specifically in the North American Great Lakes. Soon after they had been discovered, they were found to affect food chains and also, to compete with the native Great Lake species for food (Britton and McMahon, 2005).Zebra mussels have negatively influenced the organisms in the Great Lakes, and have cost the United States of America millions of dollars due to this damage caused. Although it has been found that these harmful exotic muscles are not restricted to Idaho, the state has considered taking precautionary measures to dissuade their emergence in the region.
Idaho State has named 90 "High Risk" and "Critical" water bodies where the policy should be implemented. Zebra mussels pose environmental threats to the water bodies in Idaho, and this is coupled with economic threats to the state. For instance, zebra mussels can damage boats, as they interfere with engine cooling systems, thereby causing severe accidents unless the situation is controlled. Zebra mussels also attach themselves to submerged surfaces, to aquatic plants, and fish. Since zebra mussels are transported from one point to another via water, policy restrictions like the ones adopted in Idaho are necessary to prevent the incurrence of any more damage on the part of plants, animals, boats and on other operations in the water body. To get rid of zebra mussels, Idaho State, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, has introduced more than fifteen watercraft inspection stations in its water bodies, where trained personnel have been employed by the Idaho Transportation Department Port of Entry to prevent the spread of zebra mussels in the region.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Analysis of Available Scientific Data
Idaho State has successfully conducted over 100000 inspections on every boat coming from other 49 states of the United States of America since the time the policy was formulated and implemented. It has been reported that more than 40-fouled boats have already been intercepted by Idaho State Department of Agriculture. Idaho aims at continuing with the program, and there is a debate that the success of the policy can only be achieved through a strong partnership with other 49 States of the United States of America. Idaho also indents to coerce partners to manage infested water bodies through enforcement of mandatory laws that require instant inspection and decontamination of boats in the regions where zebra mussels are feared to be in existence (Benson, 2013).
The advantage with the inspection and decontamination program is that it is environmentally and economically sound. According to the studies conducted by several researchers in the region, the strategy is appropriate such that it is capable of preventing the transfer of zebra mussels from one region to another (Benson, 2013). Targeting infested water bodies is the best strategy because it helps the state to avoid spending additional cost on inspecting of boats from the water masses that are not infested. This is because of the 100000 boats that have been inspected, only 40 have been found to harbor exotic zebra mussels. Therefore, it is uneconomical for the state to inspect every boat that enters the region.'
The chances of eliminating zebra mussels completely in water mass are small. Additionally, it greatly depends on of the ability of Department of Agriculture to respond effectively and quickly to them once they are detected in the region. Idaho's "High priority" and "Critical" water masses are extremely deep, wide and free flowing hence, limits the attempts by the State Department of Agriculture in eliminating them from the region. The effects of zebra mussels are immense and greatly threaten biodiversity. It is approximated that a single zebra mussel can impede an estimate of one gallon in a day. Provided that there are many zebra mussels in the Great Lakes, the impact will be severe to the life of people, plants and animals that depend on water masses. If the situation is not controlled in the long run, it is assumed that the entire water body will be lost to zebra mussels and this is the main reason why Idaho State Department of Agriculture is hastening to implement the law to bar boats from the contaminated source to enter the region without being inspected. The spread of zebra mussels, if not controlled, will consume the entire populations of zooplankton and phytoplankton (Wimbush, Frischer, Zarzynski and Nierzwicki‐Bauer, 2009).
The elimination of zooplankton and phytoplankton negatively influences the transfer of energy in water and affect the dynamics of the food chain to higher tropic levels. Also, zebra mussels can lead to an increase in the penetration of light deep inside the water body. This further can increase the growth of deep-rooted aquatic plants. The negative impact of this is that it can lead to environmentally harmful toxic substances during summer hence, killing other organisms in water. The inspection program that started in 2009 has made Idaho State to be aggressive in fighting exotic and dangerous substance in the water bodies. Those exotic zebra mussels that have not been identified are not significant enough to increase populations in the region and therefore, Idaho State Department of Agriculture should be congratulated for its great job in eliminating foreign substance in the water bodies (Morse, 2009).
The exotic zebra mussels found during inspections are more likely to lead to new threats that can eventually eliminate water organisms such as phytoplankton and zooplanktons. For the policy to be effective, strict regulations have to be established in Idaho to ensure that those responsible for moving zebra mussels from one region to another are fined heavily and their licenses revoked (Benson, 2013). Additionally, individuals found guilty should be punished severely to the extent that some of them should be forced to leave their businesses into other lucrative ventures. The laws should require the boats to be decontaminated before they leave the boat ramp to prevent transferring exotic substance from one waterway to another. Idaho cannot achieve its objective alone. For the law to be effective, Idaho needs to partner with other 49 States of the United States of America for it to protect its sovereign waters.
Idaho State Department of Agriculture can succeed in preventing the transfer of exotic zebra mussels from other states to its region, but however, it cannot succeed in preventing the movement waters which circulate to its side. As zebra mussels are contained in moving water, it is hard to prevent their transfer into the state. The rivers that flow into Idaho State include the Snake River, the Bruneau River, and the Clark Fork River amongst many other rivers in the United States of America. If the rivers get infected with zebra mussels, it is very difficult for Idaho State Department of Agriculture to control its water from infection (Morse, 2009). Concerted State approach is required for the law to be effective. The state of Idaho has shown a great interest in entering into pacts with other states that will ensure the Idaho take a concerted regional strategy to eliminate exotic zebra mussels in its waters. The approach when implemented will be significant given that the State of Idaho cannot manage alone zebra mussels in its water bodies.
Evaluation of Information
The State of Idaho has moved a step forward as compared to other states in the United States of America in its objective of eliminating exotic zebra mussels. Zebra mussels are a threat to organisms living in water and those that directly or indirectly depend on the water. Zebra mussels spread tremendously in the water bodies and therefore it requires the state to work hard to ensure that they are incompletely eradicated. The benefits are tremendous as they ensure that there is sustainable food chain to support the increased population of organisms in the United States of America (Wimbush et al., 2009).
Since there are several inlets that transport water in the Great Lakes, it is difficult for Idaho State to determine the specific place for conducting inspections. The major challenge for the state is that the rivers may be the source of infection. This is because not all the states are in agreement with the policy. It is imperative that Idaho State considers a concerted strategy that involves 49 states of the United States of America. This can ensure that inspection is done at the source where it occurs for the first time rather than at the specified point of inspection in Idaho State. Additionally, the fine should be strict such that those that are found guilty should not be allowed to conduct any other businesses with the state. This will discourage those that that ignorant of the law to start considering it with a lot of seriousness (Benson, 2013).
The eradication of exotic zebra mussels from rivers in Idaho is impossible since river waters move at very high speeds and therefore, it is likely that exotic mussels can move from one point to another without being noticed. It is also difficult for the Idaho State Department of Agriculture to administer decontaminants since this may occasion the intoxication of fish species hence, in the long run, can reduce fish species in the lakes. It appears that the inspection process is uneconomical because of 10000 boats that have been inspected from 2009, only 40 boats have been found to be infected. Another approach should be implemented by Idaho State Department of Agriculture to ensure that the state spends little amount as possible in an effective way (Strayer, 2009). The best solution can be that the state form strategic alliances with other nearby states and hence this ensures that all zebra mussels are eradicated from the lake. Alternatively, Idaho State can convince the Federal government of the United States of America to incorporate the law into other states for the policy to be functional. When the policy becomes a federal law, it is possible that it can be implemented as early as possible or with immediate effect. This is because of the availability of federal resources which may be used to fund the implementation of the law.
Conclusion
The policy that was introduced in 2009 is an environmental policy that seeks to protect water organisms such as phytoplankton and zooplanktons and human beings who either directly or indirectly depend on water from the lake. Toxic mussels are dangerous and pose a challenge to the water bodies and therefore, Idaho State Department of Agriculture should tackle the issue with a lot of seriousness. Since the problem is not the problem of Idaho State only, Idaho should take a concerted strategy such that all the states of the United States of America are included in the program. To get rid of zebra mussels in the water bodies, Idaho State, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, has introduced more than fifteen watercraft inspection stations in its water bodies, where trained personnel have employed by the Idaho Transportation Department Port of Entry to prevent the spread of zebra mussels in the region.
References
Benson, A. J. (2013). Chronological history of zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissenidae) in North America, 1988–2010. Quagga and zebra mussels: biology, impacts, and control , 9-31.
Britton, D. K., & McMahon, R. F. (2005). Analysis of trailered boat traffic and the potential westward spread of zebra mussels across the 100th Meridian. American Malacological Bulletin , 20 (1-2), 147-159.
Morse, J. T. (2009). Assessing the effects of application time and temperature on the efficacy of hot-water sprays to mitigate fouling by Dreissena polymorpha (zebra mussels Pallas). Biofouling , 25 (7), 605-610.
Strayer, D. L. (2009). Twenty years of zebra mussels: lessons from the mollusk that made headlines. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment , 7 (3), 135-141.
Wimbush, J., Frischer, M. E., Zarzynski, J. W., & Nierzwicki‐Bauer, S. A. (2009). Eradication of colonizing populations of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) by early detection and SCUBA removal: Lake George, NY. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems , 19 (6), 703-713.
