Nez Perce Tribe
Department of Fisheries and Resources Management
Aquatic Invasive & Nuisance Species Program
Invasive Freshwater Mollusks
The impacts invasive freshwater mollusks such as zebra, quagga and golden mussels could have on the NiMiiPuu culture and community would be very wide spread and severe. By outcompeting native species for space and resources NiiMiiPuu traditional homelands, the tribal community would lose both aquatic and terrestrial resources from which they gain their identity. Additionally, any other species that rely on salmonids and the nutrients they transport from the ocean would create a ripple effect across the region. Prevention and early detection are key to protecting NiMiiPuu homelands from invasive freshwater mollusks.
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Quagga Mussel
Dreissena bugensis
Species Information
Description:
Adults can reach up to 4 cm long, small quagga can be as small as a grain of sand, and they are microscopic in their larval stage. Color varies with bands that range from black to brown or cream with few to no zigzag patterns with colors fading near the hinge. The shell is curved at the outer margin and tapered near the hinge. Outer edge of the shell is known to be sharp. In their adult stages they permanently attach to hard surfaces with byssal threads. Note: Native mussels in Idaho do not permanently attach to hard surfaces.
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Impacts:
Quagga mussels are prolific reproducers and can filter up to a liter of water per day per individual which has enormous impacts on ecosystem biodiversity and food webs as they outcompete native species for space and food. Quagga mussels also have very large impacts on economic and industrial structures as well which could cost the pacific northwest an estimated $500 million annually for irrigation, hydropower, and municipal drinking water facilities. Other impacts could be seen in recreational and sport water activities including but not limited to, hunting, fishing, swimming, rafting, and boating. Established quagga mussel populations also create conditions that support toxic algae blooms.
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Native Range:
Quagga mussels are native to Europe and Asia. They can be found in lakes, reservoirs, and rivers or streams. They were introduced to the Great Lakes through ballast water in the late 1980s.​
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Quagga Mussel Distribution within NiMiiPuu U&A Homelands:
Quagga mussels have not been detected within the Nez Perce U&A homelands. However, quagga were detected and treated for in the Upper Snake River near Twin Falls, Idaho in September/October of 2023 and again in September/October of 2024.
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What to do if Encountered:
Be sure to clean, drain, and dry your watercraft and equipment and remember to pull the plug so you are not transporting any raw water with undesired species to another waterbody. Contact the AINS Program to request a free boat inspection and/or to schedule a time to have your boat decontaminated, frere of charge. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact the Nez Perce Tribe's Aquatic Invasive & Nuisance Species Program @...
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AINS Program Lead, Clark Watry at 208-621-3549
AINS Biologist, Anthony Capetillo at 208-621-3553
and/or the Idaho Invasive Species Hotline at 1-877-336-8676.
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Invasion Timeline
1989
2007
September, 2023
Early 2024
September, 2024
October, 2024
September, 2025
Quagga mussels are first detected in North America, introduced to the Great Lakes through ballast water from shipping containers.
Quagga mussels break the 100th meridian initiative and are detected for the first time in the western United States in Lake Mead, Nevada .
Quagga mussels are detected in the Snake River near Twin Falls, Idaho. ISDA carries out copper based treatment (natrix) in multiple phases.
Potash is used to treat for quagga mussels in still water areas,
Quagga are detected above Twin Falls
Copper treatment implemented again
ISDA reports a 51% reduction in impacted area and initiates another copper treatment to further reduced quagga in the Snake River.
Zebra Mussel
Dreissena polymorpha
Species Infomation
Description:
Adults can reach approximately 2.5cm long, young mussels can be as small as a grain of sand, at the larval life stage zebra mussels are microscopic. Color varies from black-brown to white-yellow with zigzag patterns. Their shell is triangular shaped with small stripped ridges across the shell which has the ability to stand on its flat ventral side if placed on a flat surface. Outer edge of the shell is known to be sharp and in their adult stages they can also permanently attach to hard surfaces. Note: Native mussels in Idaho do not permanently attach to hard surfaces.
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Impacts:
Zebra mussels are prolific reproducers and can filter copious amounts of water per day per individual which has enormous impacts on ecosystem biodiversity and food webs from the bottom up as they outcompete native species for space and food. Zebra mussels also have very large impacts on economic and industrial structures costing hundreds of millions of dollars to address. Other impacts could be seen in recreational and sport water activities including but not limited to; hunting, fishing, swimming, rafting, and boating. Established zebra mussel populations also create conditions that support toxic algae blooms.
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Native Range:
Zebra mussels are native to Europe and Asia. They can be found in lakes, reservoirs, and rivers or streams. They were introduced to the Great Lakes through ballast water in the late 1980s.
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Zebra Mussel Distribution within NiMiiPuu U&A Homelands:
Zebra mussels have not yet been detected within the U&A homelands of the Nez Perce.
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What to do if Encountered:
Be sure to clean, drain, and dry your watercraft and equipment and remember to pull the plug so you are not transporting any raw water with undesired species to another waterbody. Contact the AINS Program to request a free boat inspection and/or to schedule a time to have your boat decontaminated, frere of charge. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact the Nez Perce Tribe's Aquatic Invasive & Nuisance Species Program @...
​
AINS Program Lead, Clark Watry at 208-621-3549
AINS Biologist, Anthony Capetillo at 208-621-3553
and/or the Idaho Invasive Species Hotline at 1-877-336-8676.
Invasion Timeline
1988
2008
2021
Zebra mussels are first detected in North America, introduced to the Great Lakes through ballast water from shipping containers.
Zebra mussels are detected for the first time in the western United States in California.
Zebra mussels are discovered in marimo moss balls which where distributed through the aquarium trade and sold at pet stores in 46 states across North America including Idaho, Washington, and Oregon.
Golden Mussel
Limnoperna fortunei
Species Information
Description:
Adults can reach approximately long. Color Their shell shaped Note: Native mussels in Idaho do not permanently attach to hard surfaces.
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Impacts:
Golden mussels are prolific reproducers and can filter copious amounts of water per day per individual which has enormous impacts on ecosystem biodiversity and food webs from the bottom up as they outcompete native species for space and food. Golden mussels also have very large impacts on economic and industrial structures costing hundreds of millions of dollars to address. Other impacts could be seen in recreational and sport water activities including but not limited to; hunting, fishing, swimming, rafting, and boating. Established golden mussel populations also create conditions that support toxic algae blooms. Golden mussels are also adapted to a wider environmental range than zebra and quagga mussels making golden mussels more prone for survival in the pacific northwest than other invasive mussels.
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Native Range:
Golden mussels are native to the lakes, reservoirs, and rivers or streams in Asia. In October 2024, the first-ever detection of golden mussels in the United States occurred in California's Bay-Delta region near the Port of Stockton.
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​Zebra Mussel Distribution within NiMiiPuu U&A Homelands:
Golden mussels have not yet been detected within the U&A homelands of the Nez Perce.
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What to do if Encountered:
Be sure to clean, drain, and dry your watercraft and equipment and remember to pull the plug so you are not transporting any raw water with undesired species to another waterbody. Contact the AINS Program to request a free boat inspection and/or to schedule a time to have your boat decontaminated, frere of charge. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact the Nez Perce Tribe's Aquatic Invasive & Nuisance Species Program @...
​
AINS Program Lead, Clark Watry at 208-621-3549
AINS Biologist, Anthony Capetillo at 208-621-3553
and/or the Idaho Invasive Species Hotline at 1-877-336-8676.
Invasion Timeline
Early 1990s
2016
October 2024
Golden mussels are discovered for the first time in South America, likely through ballast water from shipping vessels.
Golden mussels officially spread throughout South America.
Golden mussels are detected for the first time in North America in California. Ongoing reports continue to flow in as golden mussels continue to spread through California's complex waterways.
New Zealand Mud Snail
Potamopyrgus antipodarum
Species Information
Description:
Mature New Zealand Mudsnails can measure as long as 1 cm, their color varies from an ivory to a dark brown and have spiraled cone shaped shells with 5-6 whorls. The shell opening has an operculum which allows the snail to seal itself inside.
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Impacts:
New Zealand Mudsnails are a-sexual which means that it only takes one snail to start a new population and have been known to reach populations densities of 800 thousand individuals per square meter. New Zealand Mudsnails outcompete and displace many native species as they disrupt the food chain which will lead to reduced growth rates and lower populations of native fish and other macroinvertebrate species. Their ability to seal off their shell enables them to pass through the digestive system of a fish or bird and come out alive making them unavailable as a nutrient source while also enabling them to withstand harsh or dry conditions and chemical exposures longer than other invasive species.
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Native Range:
They are native to New Zealand and were first discovered in the Snake River in Idaho in 1987. They can be found in a wide range of conditions from clean and clear waters to eutrophic and brackish waters. New Zealand Mudsnails are often found in slow moving or disturbed waterbodies.
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New Zealand Mudsnail Distribution within NiMiiPuu U&A Homelands:
New Zealand mudsnails are established within the U&A homelands of the Nez Perce. Ongoing monitoring of Wallowa Lake near Joseph, Oregon is addressing concerns of a potential future introduction from the Snake River into Wallowa Lake while exploring other areas of concern.
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What to do if Encountered:
Be sure to clean, drain, and dry your watercraft and equipment (i.e., waders, wading boots, nets, etc.) and remember to pull the plug so you are not transporting any raw water with undesired species to another waterbody. Contact the AINS Program to request a free boat inspection and/or to schedule a time to have your boat decontaminated, frere of charge. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact the Nez Perce Tribe's Aquatic Invasive & Nuisance Species Program @...
​
AINS Program Lead, Clark Watry at 208-621-3549
AINS Biologist, Anthony Capetillo at 208-621-3553
and/or the Idaho Invasive Species Hotline at 1-877-336-8676.
Invasion Timeline
1987
1991
Mid-late 1990's
2006
New Zealand mudsnails are detected for the first time in North America in the Snake River, Idaho.
New Zealand mudsnails are detected for the first time in the Great Lakes.
New Zealand mudsnails discovered in the Lower Columbia River estuary.
New Zealand mudsnails have spread throughout the western states and found in four of the five Great Lakes.