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On Friday, President Barack Obama signed the Water Resources Development Act of 2017, which included an effort championed by Rep. Jamie Herrera Beutler to prevent invasive aquatic species from getting into the Columbia River ecosystem.

According to a press release, Beutler’s initiative clarifies that the intent of WRDA-authorized funds is to assist in establishing new boat inspection stations and providing maintenance for existing stations in northwest states.

Those stations inspect boats for and remove invasive quagga and zebra mussels.

The fingernail-sized quagga and zebra mussels originated from eastern Europe. They kill freshwater mussels, clog pipes at power and water treatment plants, and attach to boats, increasing drag, affecting steering and clogging their engines.

These mussels are already present in many waterways in the eastern half of North America. Strategies for reducing existing populations have shown poor results, so most efforts are focused on stopping quagga and zebra from being introduced.

According to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, the potential cost of a quagga mussel introduction into the Pacific Northwest has been estimated at more than $500 million annually.

The Daily News, Longview, Wash.

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