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- Economic evaluation of activities associated with invasive mussel management
Economic evaluation of activities associated with invasive mussel management
Project ID: 8142
Principal Investigator: Jolene Trujillo
Research Topic: Invasive Species
Funded Fiscal Years:
2018,
2019 and
2020
Keywords: None
Research Question
What is the cost effectiveness of prevention and control mussel management strategies? In the case of invasive mussels, prevention efforts to contain their spread rely on watercraft inspections and decontamination (WID). This effort is costly and is subject to concerns regarding efficacy. Once an infestation occurs, control of mussels to mitigate infrastructure impacts rely on reactive techniques to reduce interior mussel biofouling at hydropower or water delivery facilities. These efforts are also costly with regard to the O&M of the facility and the water and power users of that facility. This project aims to understand the cost effectiveness of these two types of management activities (prevention and control) in order to better utilize limited funds for quagga mussels management.
Need and Benefit
NEED: Reclamation continues to face a spectrum of issues with invasive mussels, and resources for management are limited. Current prevention and control methods have not been examined thoroughly for cost efficacy, and best usage of resources for invasive mussel management are not well understood.
The project will provide Reclamation leadership additional tools for decision making and efficient resource allocation. This economic analysis will provide additional metrics for determining an ideal mussel management approach and assist in understanding the costs in a Reclamation-wide approach. This project will potentially save taxpayer dollars, reduce O&M costs, and diminish the spread and impact of invasive mussels in the West through an understanding and development of cost-efficient practices.
Reclamation will continue to fund activities in a piecemeal approach that may not be the most cost effective or yield the most benefit in reducing the spread of invasive 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.
Costs Associated with Invasive Mussels Impacts and Management (final, PDF, 1.7MB)
By Nicholas Rumzie,Randy Christopherson, Scott O’Meara, Yale Passamaneck, Aaron Murphy, Sherri Pucherelli, Jolene Trujillo
Report completed on September 30, 2021
Economic Evaluation of Activities Associated with Invasive Mussel Management (final, PDF, 574KB)
By Nicholas Rumzie, Randy Christopherson, Scott O’Meara, Yale Passamaneck, Sherri Pucherelli, Aaron Murphy, Jolene Trujillo
R&D Bulletin completed on September 13, 2022
