ABSTRACT
In August 2002, zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) were found in an abandoned quarry in northern Virginia (Millbrook Quarry) and reported to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The quarry was and remains a popular SCUBA recreational and training dive site in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Upon conrmation of the infestation, the Department embarked on a course of “rapid response” to provide the rst successful eradication of a large open-water population of this invasive aquatic nuisance species. This chapter narrates the course taken by the Department and its partner agencies; explores the statutory, regulatory, procedural, and technical hurdles encountered; and offers recommendations for enhancing the ability of government agencies to effectively deal with such invasions. In this instance, “rapid response” involved nearly 3½ years of planning, investigation, negotiation, and project design, followed by 3 weeks of project implementation. Based on our experience, we conclude that the following steps could dramatically shorten the time required to respond to future invasions: (1) prepared interagency rapid response plans that address agency responsibilities and authority; (2) clear guidelines, protocols, and decision matrices for project design and implementation; (3) streamlined procurement and environmental review; and (4) stable funding for invasive species management.
