Research and Development Office

Risk mapping for mussel infestation in the Pacific Northwest

Project ID: 19007
Principal Investigator: Anthony Prisciandaro
Research Topic: Invasive Species
Funded Fiscal Years: 2019, 2020 and 2021
Keywords: None

Research Question

Determining how to best allocate dreissenid mussel early detection monitoring effort across the Columbia River Basin
(CRB) to address both inter-jurisdictional and regional priorities has been identified as an immediate need by multiple
regional partnerships, including DOI's "Safeguarding the West from Invasive Species" Initiative. An initial step toward
optimal allocation of early detection resources across the CRB is to develop a regional strategy for assessing how
water quality affects dreissenid mussel establishment risk. We will address issues identified in regional forums
surrounding the use of water quality data to assess dreissenid mussel establishment risk. Project deliverables include:
(1) Development of criteria for assessing the relevance of water quality data (e.g., based on how, when and where
data were collected) for dreissenid mussel risk assessments across the CRB; (2) Development of a ranking scheme
for water quality metrics relevant to dreissenid mussel establishment in the CRB; (3) Discussion of the benefits and
drawbacks of various strategies currently used to assign dreissenid mussel risk rankings based on water quality
across the CRB; and (4) Display the application of water quality relevance criteria and risk assessment rankings to
water bodies in the Upper Snake River subbasin (FY19) and the remainder of the Columbia River Basin (FY20) in a
georeferenced format that will be accessible by stakeholders.

Need and Benefit

Determining how to best allocate dreissenid mussel early detection monitoring effort across the Columbia River Basin
(CRB) to address both inter-jurisdictional and regional priorities has been identified as an immediate need by
Reclamation and DOI's "Safeguarding the West from Invasive Species" Initiative.
The current information Reclamation and most partner agencies are using for risk analysis in the Columbia Basin is
based off a paper from 2010 that modeled calcium (main risk factor for mussels) data based on geology in cases
where data was not available. Calcium and other water quality constituents change seasonally. There is a lot of new
data that has come out since this 2010 paper. This current work proposed will summarize the updated and QA/QC'd
risk based on calcium in a visual format. This will allow for better prioritization as well as an improved understanding
from upper management.
Refining the use of water quality data in dreissenid mussel risk assessments will provide synergy with the existing DOI
Safeguarding the West projects by providing a collaborative, stakeholder and expert practitioner driven approach to
defining what types of water quality data are most relevant to key life history stages of dreissenid mussels.

Contributing Partners

Contact the Principal Investigator for information about partners.

Research Products

Bureau of Reclamation Review

The following documents were reviewed by experts in fields relating to this project's study and findings. The results were determined to be achieved using valid means.

Calcium and pH Dynamics: Potential Influence on Invasive Mussel Establishment Risk in Lentic Waterbodies (final, PDF, 2.3MB)
By Anthony Prisciandaro
Report completed on September 30, 2022

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