BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A new response plan has been created to help officials combat the potential invasion of freshwater mussels to our local waters.

Bellingham City Council’s Public Works and Natural Resources Committee heard a presentation about the plan on Monday.

The plan details how a partnership between local and state agencies would respond in the event that invasive freshwater mussel species were to be detected in Lake Whatcom.

Species of these invasive mussels can destroy ecosystems, clog water systems and grow on machinery necessary for recreation and industry upon introduction. As of now, Washington has no reported quagga, zebra or golden mussels established in any freshwater bodies.

But that could change according to the consulting firm Four Peaks Environmental Senior Scientist Mark Cecchini Beaver. He said during the presentation how a Snake River infestation in Idaho and rapid spreading in California from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta could infect our waters:

“Shipping from the bay delta to the Port of Bellingham and overland transport of watercraft from those infested areas are potential vectors into Lake Whatcom,” Cecchini Beaver said.

Bellingham’s council adopted the plan and Whatcom County Council as well as the Lake Whatcom Water and District Commissioners will vote on the plan in the coming weeks.