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water resources projects in the West may be especially vulnerable to adverse affects associated with zebra mussel infestation in the East. It is recognized that zebra mussels may eventually colonize western areas. However, if the present, rapid spread of the zebra mussel could be reduced for only a few years, it could save millions of dollars in potential damages to water management facilities. A delay in the spread of the zebra mussel also would allow for a more gradual conversion of vulnerable facilities to develop and install zebra mussel-resistant measures It also could allow time for the development of processes and proce- dures for protecting sensitive species and their environments judged at risk, including threatened and endangered species populations, and to develop zebra mussel prevention and manage- ment measures for them. The mechanism of, and potential impacts from zebra mussel infestation into the Western United States are unknown. Modes for its western dispersal may be different than those in the East. Therefore, actions necessary to prevent or at least slow the spread must first be identified before they can be implemented. These activities would, no doubt, be expensive and require an extensive commitment from many agencies and organizations. But the potential for environmental and economic losses dictates that attempts be made to stop, or at best reduce the spread of zebra mussels. The U.S. Congress passed the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (PL 101-646) in an attempt to reduce the spread of a host of exotic species that were already established, and to further limit new introductions of nonindigenous species. Although much of the stimulus for the passage of this act was due to the invasion of the zebra mussel, efforts to date have done little to prevent the spread of this species into many waterways in North America and prospects for its eradica- tion are low. In this context, the U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment (1993) recently completed a comprehensive report on harmful nonindigenous species in the United States, and stated "...Federal and State policies designed to protect us from the worst species are not safeguarding our national interests in important areas." This Congressional report further indicated that harmful nonindigenous species are spreading because there is little or no Federal guidance or regulations, and State efforts to regulate importation, possession, introduction, and release of nonindigenous species are generally inadequate. This report was initiated to develop a framework for future efforts to