Lake Whatcom boaters could face inspection to deter mussel invasion

As soon as this summer, watercraft ranging from float planes and motorboats to canoes and kayaks could face mandatory inspections as they launch in Lake Whatcom, as local governments ramp up their efforts to prevent nasty invasive mussels from finding their way into the city's water supply.
Two species of Eurasian mussel are the main concern. They are known as zebra and quagga mussels and are native to the Black and Caspian seas. They are believed to have been introduced to North America by Russian freighters emptying ballast water in the Great Lakes in the 1980s.