Hundreds of invasive species that swim, crawl, float, fly or multiply cost the nation billions every year in damages and control efforts.
Officials are constantly challenged to find new ways to address these non-native plants, pests and other species that arrive and thrive. Among the more costly invaders in freshwater lakes and waterways are a group of voracious mussels that first appeared in the U.S. more than 30 years ago.
Zebra mussels and quagga mussels can wreak havoc on waterways, fouling pipes and other submerged equipment at dams, hydropower plants, docks and harbors. Spending on efforts to repair damages and control or eradicate the mussels is estimated at $1 billion a year.
The mussels are moved from place to place in the ballast water of vessels, primarily through recreational boats, which also spread other aquatic pests and plants, such as hydrilla and water hyacinths, according to federal documents.
Wanting to step up their efforts to battle an array of aquatic invaders, federal agencies have launched a $550,000 prize challenge to solicit help in eliminating the risk of the mussels spreading. The Bureau of Reclamation under the Department of the Interior is coordinating the challenge with NASA.
