Invasive species are non-native animals, microbes, diseases or plants that cause economic or environmental problems. They have the ability to significantly damage California crops and water systems.
The biggest weapon in the fight against these threats might be you. It pays to act early
Prevention and early detection are the most effective and cheapest methods of dealing with invasive species. Early detection and response are necessary to prevent infestations and control costs from reaching unmanageable levels. The estimated cost to the power industry in the Great Lakes area to combat invasive mussel infestations between 1993 and 1999 was $3.1 billion. The mussel infestation in the West is considered young and still preventable.
There are hundreds of invasive species in California. Here are a few:
Brown marmorated stink bug: This bug is notable for damaging more than 60 different plant species, including crops and fruit trees. It is a particular risk to Californian grapevines and tomato plants. The bugs are spreading from the Mid-Atlantic states and considered a significant risk to California.
The arundo problem: Arundo is an exceptionally fast-growing plant, growing about 4 inches per day and reaching a mature height of 25 feet in about a year. The plants clog waterways, are a fire threat and drain local water resources. The Center for Invasive Species Research at UC Riverside states that if arundo were not drawing water from the Santa Ana River Basin there would be enough water to serve a population of about 190,000 people. If that amount of untreated water (37,500 acre-feet) was purchased from the Metropolitan Water Association it would cost approximately $12 million in 1993 dollars.
New Zealand mud snail: These snails reproduce at such a fast rate they have an adverse effect on bodies of water they inhabit. There is no feasible eradication technology, so the first line of defense is to try to contain them.
