Governor Mark Gordon has put together an emergency panel to mitigate impacts and seek solutions to the discovery of invasive zebra mussels.  Last week, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department found zebra mussels in aquatic algae products, known as moss balls, sold in pet stores.

These Zebra mussels have recently shown up in pet stores in two dozen states around the country.  Five Petco locations have been identified in Wyoming; Sheridan, Gillette, Rock Springs, Casper and Cheyenne.  Petco has pulled the moss balls product from its shelves.

“Zebra mussels are an extremely destructive aquatic invasive species,” said Game and Fish Chief of Fisheries Alan Osterland. “Once they become established in reservoirs, lakes, or even city water systems, they wreak havoc. They remove nutrients from water, clog pipes and waterways, damage boats and out-compete native mussels. Further, in many cases, zebra mussels are impossible to remove and could have costly impacts for Wyoming.”

The response team is led by Director Brian Nesvik of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Director Doug Miyamoto of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture.  There are also representatives from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources, Wyoming Department of Transportation, Wyoming State Engineer’s Office, Wyoming Energy Authority, Wyoming Department of Tourism, Wyoming Water Development Commission and Wyoming Office of Homeland Security.

Director Miyamoto issued a quarantine on all importation of Marimo balls or moss balls earlier this week.  Because aquarium plants, like moss balls, are considered nursey stock, they are subject to a quarantine order by the Department of Agriculture Director.

“This is an urgent and serious matter that potentially affects Wyoming’s water infrastructure, lakes and rivers,” Gov. Gordon said.

Beyond issuing a quarantine, the emergency response team will remove products containing the mussels from the market and try to keep the mussels from spreading.  The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has been working to keep the zebra and quagga mussel out of Wyoming waters. All watercraft entering the state between March 1 and November 30 must be inspected for the creatures.

“Our main goal is to come together quickly to remove the invasive and coordinate our efforts to mitigate any potential impacts,” Gov. Gordon said.

Montana’s study estimates hundreds of millions of dollars worth of impacts in lost revenue, property damage, and mitigation costs if the mussel became established there.  Both the House and the Senate considered amendments on the floor to provide additional funding to defend against the invasive species, but they were defeated.

Zebra mussels are fingernail-sized natives to Ukraine and the Caspian Sea that appeared in the states over a decade ago.  The most affected states have been Southern and Eastern states.