By Peter MacRae
Much has been written about the potential quagga mussel problem. However, the Clear Lake Foundation believes more needs to be written about the consequences of infestation. In particular, what the dire economic consequences are to Lake County should the quagga or its close relative, the zebra mussel, find their way here. By no means is this meant to minimize the environmental damage, but this article will focus on how quagga mussel infestation will affect your pocketbook.
First, the Clear Lake Foundation would like to acknowledge and thank Ed Calkins for alerting a number of interested people about an Internet article by the Associated Press entitled “Invasive mussels imperil Western water systems.” Some of the facts in that article will be cited here.
Second, even though it has been written before, it is worth repeating a little background information. The quagga mussel and the zebra mussel were introduced to the Great Lakes in the ballast of a freighter from Ukraine in the 1980s. It has been reported by Lake County officials that Minnesota has been successful in confining the mussels to five lakes by employing an extensive public awareness program. Unfortunately, according to the AP story, a little over two years ago the quagga mussel reached Lake Mead on the Colorado River, and the AP reports, “? the population has firmly established and gone on a breeding binge, with the numbers soaring into the trillions.” Today, the lakes of the Colorado River system, as well as many lakes in Southern and Central California are infested. As far as we know, but have not been able to establish, the infestation of the Southwest probably was caused by recreational boaters. It only takes one contaminated watercraft to infest an entire water body.
With current technology, eradicating the mussels is virtually impossible. For example, the AP further points out that at Hoover Dam the mussels attacked the intake towers with an average density of two or three mussels per square foot. Today that density is 55,000 mussels per square foot. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWDSD) expects to spend between $10 and $15 million dollars per year in increased maintenance costs to prevent the breakdown of aqueduct and reservoir machinery for the distribution of water. The MWDSC has told U.S. lawmakers that the price tag in the East will be in the billions of dollars “and likely will soar in the West.” Somewhat closer to home, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency estimates that infestation (of Lake Tahoe) would be a $22 million dollar per year economic loss. “Who is going to pay for that?” asks Wen Baldwin, a National Park Service volunteer. “It ain”t going to be Santa Claus. It”s going to be the consumer.” That means water utility rates will increase and, possibly, substantially.
How does all this affect Lake County? First, if the quagga mussel gets into our lake system and our water districts have to spend significant dollars in increased maintenance, your water utility bill will be increased accordingly. Second, let us look at the tourist industry which is vital to Lake County”s economy. Due to the environmental damage the mussels create, the fishing attraction of Lake County would be jeopardized or could possibly become in danger of collapse. The result could be fewer fish, fewer fishermen, fewer tourists, fewer sales tax dollars and fewer transient occupancy tax (TOT) dollars. This means fewer retail sales, which will cause businesses and their employees in the county to suffer. If you own a business in the county or work for one you will be directly impacted. The County of Lake, the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport are all suffering with budget constraints. Any significant drop in sales tax revenue could (will) result in a cutback of public services. A drop in the appeal of Lake County could have an adverse effect on property values, the value of your home. It is clear that a little mussel, smaller than your fingernail, could do real damage to each of us personally.
Peter MacRae is the Executive Director of the Clear Lake Foundation.
