Flathead Lake Biological Station Reports No Invasive Species This Summer
Flathead Lake Biological Station’s summer report shows no invasive species found after inspecting over 100,000 boats for contamination.
Flathead Lake, Montana, Invasive Species, Zebra Mussels, Quagga Mussels, Aquatic Invasive Species
Kalispell: The Flathead Lake Biological Station just shared its 2024 Aquatic Invasive Species report. They inspected over 100,000 boats this summer, which is pretty impressive. Almost half of those boats came from states known to have invasive species.
Some of Montana’s neighbors have had issues with zebra and quagga mussels lately. Places like the Snake River in Idaho and Highline Lake in Colorado have faced these problems. So, it’s a big deal that Montana hasn’t had any mussel-infested boats slip through yet.
Phil Matson, a specialist at the station, feels lucky that they’ve managed to keep invasive mussels out so far. He’s optimistic about the future, saying there are promising developments in detection technology and regional prevention efforts.
This year marked the eighth time the station teamed up with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to inspect watercraft. Together, they found and cleaned 42 boats that were infested with mussels.
They also did early detection sampling for invasive mussels at 31 sites around Flathead Lake. So far, none of the samples have tested positive for invasive mussels or their DNA, which is great news.
On top of that, the station has been busy with community outreach and training on aquatic invasive species. They’ve been teaching various groups about new rapid detection technology that can give results in as little as 30 minutes. This tech is being used to improve early detection protocols at several lakes in the area.
Matson, who’s been working on this program for nearly ten years, even received the 2024 Flathead Lakers Flathead Lake Stewardship Award. He emphasizes the importance of having someone on-site to check boats before they launch, as it’s crucial for preventing any potential contamination.