Efforts within the Pacific Northwest to defend against invasive quagga and zebra mussels were given a major boost in December when congress appropriated $4 million within the federal omnibus budget for watercraft inspection stations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. The federal funds came through the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) and are administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They will require a one-to-one funding match with the states. Securing funding for a perimeter defense has been a major focus of PNWER and its partners. Read the press release here. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regional office is still working with headquarters on drafting implementation guidance. There will not be a time limit on how long jurisdictions have to use the funds. So far, we have been told that monitoring is not likely to be included in the $4 million. One unresolved issue is what would be allowable match expense from the states - whether inspection stations must be inside the Columbia River Basin or whether they can be within Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.