NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson’s (CA-5) bipartisan amendment requiring a federal study on impacts of invasive species passed the House Thursday.
The amendment was passed as part of H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2013.
Specifically, the amendment requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on the impacts of aquatic invasive species on federal assets and current federal spending on aquatic invasive species prevention.
“Invasive species pose a major financial risk to our local communities, and we need to make sure we’re spending our money wisely and efficiently on prevention rather than responding to an invasion after it occurs,” said Thompson.
“The cost of dealing with invasive species after they become established in a new area is often far higher than what the cost of prevention would have been,” said Thompson. “Our amendment will help us to more efficiently address the problems posed by invasive species by proactively identifying where money needs to be spent, finding gaps in our current efforts, and helping minimize the duplication of federal and state activities.”
Thompson co-authored the amendment with his co-chair of the Congressional Invasive Species Caucus, Rep. Dan Benichek (R-MI-1), and Reps. Mike Simpson (R-ID-2), Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4), and Dina Titus (D-NV-1).
Aquatic invasive species pose a costly challenge to water infrastructure, fisheries, and the environment in local communities across the United States.
However, this problem often only receives attention after an invasive species has become established in a new area and has begun clogging water pipes, infecting plants and animals with dangerous diseases, and outcompeting native species.
These impacts can damage fisheries, pose health hazards, irreparably damage natural environments, and take a severe toll on local, state, and federal budgets.
For example, aquatic mussels such as quagga and zebra mussels have cost U.S. communities more than $5 billion since their introduction in the 1980s.
In the 5th Congressional district, Clear Lake, Lake Sonoma and Lake Berryessa are all rated at the highest possible risk level for quagga invasion.
Currently none of these lakes has been invaded by quagga mussels. However, if quaggas invade one of these lakes, control and treatment would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per year and negatively impact the water supply for residents in Sonoma, Lake and Solano counties.
If quagga mussels invade the state water infrastructure it could cost millions every year to keep the pipes clear.
“Invasive species are a national problem with major local implications,” Thompson continued. “This study will help make sure we’re spending federal dollars in a way that prevents invasions before they happen so we can protect our communities from their devastating impacts.”
The amendment was passed by a bipartisan vote of 417-3. WRRDA was passed by a bipartisan vote of 417-3. The Senate passed a different WRDA bill, S. 601, on May 15 by a bipartisan vote of 83-14. The bills are now expected to go to a conference committee to resolve their differences.
Thompson represents California’s 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.