Invasives Priority Bill to Governor, While Quagga Mussels Found in Washington

Senate Bill 571, an OCN Priority for a Healthy Oregon, passed the Oregon House on a 60-0 vote this morning. The bill will increase penalties on those people who introduce invasive fish into Oregon waters. The bill now heads to the Governor for his signature. Congratulations to all those who helped move this important bill forward! (more about the bill)

Meanwhile, two other invasive priority bills, House Bill 2220 and House Bill 2020, remain in the Joint Ways and Means Committee. HB 2220 would authorize a set of border stations to check boats coming into Oregon for invasive plants and mussels. HB 2020 would set up an emergency response fund to fight invasives. Both are particularly timely in light of today's news that a boat in Washington was found to be carrying quagga mussels, which can cause huge ecological damage and millions of dollars of damage to public water infrastructure.