Assessing the Risk of Invasive Mussels Spreading throughout the Columbia River Basin | U.S. Geological Survey
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Assessing the Risk of Invasive Mussels Spreading throughout the Columbia River Basin
By
Western Fisheries Research Center
March 3, 2025
Western Fisheries v Mussels: Working to understand factors influencing the movement of invasive mussels in the Columbia River Basin.
Invasive zebra and quagga mussels cause extensive economic damage in the United States, wreaking havoc on water intake and mechanical structures as well as upsetting the balance of aquatic ecosystems. Zebra and quagga mussels starve ecosystems by consuming important plankton at the base of aquatic food webs. As a result, not only do these invasive mussels interrupt the food chain by over-consuming plankton, but lack of plankton also promotes the growth of toxic harmful algae, which can kill numerous aquatic organisms directly or through the process of eutrophication. The mussels also rapidly reproduce and colonize iron and steel pipes and other mechanical equipment, fouling and plugging up systems and rapidly increasing the rate of corrosion.
State, federal and Tribal agencies have worked for decades to prevent the spread of invasive mussels west of the 100th meridian, a longitudinal line that has long been considered an ecological divide between the relatively moist eastern states and the arid west. However, in September 2023, quagga mussels were detected for the first time in the Snake River in Idaho, a large tributary of the Columbia River. Efforts to eradicate the invasive mussels took place immediately; however, they were again detected a year later. Now there is growing concern that they could spread throughout the Columbia River Basin.
The Columbia River Basin acts as an aquatic artery for much of the Northwest, home to salmon and other iconic species of critical economic and cultural importance. The river basin also contains important human infrastructure. This includes numerous hydroelectric dams, water diversions for agriculture and human consumption, locks for transportation, and hatcheries that produce salmon, steelhead, and other fish to support recreational and commercial fisheries and uphold Tribal treaty agreements.
Last fall, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Southwest Biological Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, and the University of California - Davis began working with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to develop a comprehensive model that assesses the risk of mussel invasion throughout the waters of the Columbia River Basin within Washington State. The effort builds upon an existing model for
the Missouri River Basin
produced by the same team along with USGS Western Fisheries Research Center’s late Tim Counihan.
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Figure 1: Example of model results for the Missouri River Basin, illustrating that the risk of infestation is not equal across a watershed. This reinforces the value of using these risk assessment models in places like the Columbia River Basin so monitoring, control and mitigation actions can be targeted. Figure taken from Raymond et al (2025)
To assess potential risk of mussel invasion, the model receives input values for transport activity, relative availability of suitable habitat for invasive mussels, and the presence of at-risk hatchery and other infrastructure. With this information, the model can be used to isolate specific areas of the Columbia River Basin at greatest comparative risk to invasive mussel introduction and establishment. Relative risk assessments can be used to guide prioritization of financial resources for monitoring, management, and control of the invasive mussels.
Further, USGS Western Fisheries Research Center scientist Ramona Rapp is collaborating with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to develop a guidance document for management agencies related to mussel invasion. The document will evaluate risks to hatcheries and recommend potential improvements to hatchery infrastructure to prevent mussel intrusion or reduce their impact where risks are found to be highest.
Authors
Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC)
6505 NE 65th Street
Seattle
WA
98115-5016
United States
Phone
(206) 526-6282
Fax
(206) 526-6654
Southwest Biological Science Center - Flagstaff, AZ, Headquarters
2255 N. Gemini Drive
Flagstaff
AZ
86001
United States
Phone
928-556-7094
Fax
928-556-7092
Lucas Bair
Economist
Southwest Biological Science Center
Email
lbair@usgs.gov
Phone
928-556-7362
Ramona Rapp
Biological Science Technician
Western Fisheries Research Center
Email
rrapp@usgs.gov
Contacts
Michael William Schmidt
Center Director
Western Fisheries Research Center
Email
mwschmidt@usgs.gov
Phone
206-526-6291
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