Invasive mussels are causing quite the havoc in one US state. If you live in California, then listen up. Officials are seeking out solutions to the $1 billion problem.
The United States Bureau of Reclamation launched the Halt the Hitchhiker challenge. It challenges residents to find a way to solve the issue. You could be awarded up to $200,000 for successful ideas on the mussels issue.
The challenge promotes "innovative solutions to eliminate the risk of aquatic invasive species (AIS)," according to its official website. "The goal is to identify novel approaches that can kill, exclude, or inactivate AIS such as quagga, zebra, and golden mussels, thereby protecting Reclamation's water delivery and hydropower infrastructure."
Invasive Mussels in California
According to the Bureau of Reclamation, these mussels catch rides on boats and other watercraft and easily spread. Getting them off boats can take a large amount of time and be exhausting.
"During peak boating seasons, this creates operational bottlenecks and challenges in keeping up with the volume of watercraft moving between waterbodies," the agency stated.
"The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has aggressive programs throughout the state of California, that we're working directly with," Michael Burke, a public affairs specialist for the Bureau of Reclamation, told ABC7. "So we want to do whatever we can to prevent the spread of golden mussels up in our area."
So dyou have a solution? Well, the competition is in three phases. The first phase will award up to $25,000 in prizes to up to six winners. Turn in your proposal and take a shot at the cast. The second phase will offer up to $50,000 to three winners. Finally, the grand prize will be $125,000 for the winner, $75,000 for the runner-up, and $50,000 for the second runner-up.
