Inspectors find mussels on boat at Anaconda station
The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Anaconda watercraft inspection station intercepted a boat carrying invasive mussels Monday. The boat was being transported from the Great Lakes area to Bellingham, WA, by a commercial hauler. The boat was last used on Lake Huron and had been in dry dock since October.
Mussels were found on the transom and trim tabs and were dried-up and dead. The inspectors decontaminated the boat before releasing it. The boat will not launch in Montana.
Officials in Idaho and Washington have been notified and will follow up with the vessel to conduct their own inspections.
This is the first boat with mussels that watercraft inspectors have stopped this year.
FWP reminds all those transporting motorized or nonmotorized boats into Montana to have their watercraft inspected before launching. Boat owners are required to stop at all open watercraft inspection stations. Persons purchasing used boats should ensure the watercraft are clean, drained and dry before crossing Montana state line.
To find a watercraft inspection station, visit CleanDrainDryMT.com
Boat with invasive mussels stopped at Anaconda watercraft inspection station
Snowbird boaters must get watercraft inspected
Boaters anxious to get on the water after a long, cold winter are reminded to ensure their watercraft are Clean, Drained and Dry to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Montana remains vigilant in stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species. Boaters who have used their watercraft in any water outside of Montana must have the boat inspected before launching.
Snowbirds must seek out a watercraft inspection when returning to Montana for the summer, even if their boat has been inspected in another state.
Many lakes and reservoirs in southern states are mussel-positive waters. Aquatic invasive species, such as quagga and zebra mussels, can survive on the hulls of watercraft during transport and microscopic mussel larvae can live undetected in standing water in boat bilges and ballast tanks. The risk of moving these invaders into Montana can be mitigated when boat owners are vigilant about ensuring their watercraft are cleaned, drained of all water and dry.
Additionally, Montana law requires all watercraft travelling west across the Continental Divide into the Columbia River Basin to be inspected. And watercraft launching anywhere within the Flathead Basin that was last launched on waters outside of the Flathead Basin must be inspected.
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Watercraft Inspection Stations Opening Across State
Montana’s watercraft inspection stations are opening across the state for the 2019 boating season. Persons transporting motorized and non-motorized watercraft are required to stop for inspection as directed by signage. Anyone bringing a boat into Montana must seek out a watercraft inspection before launching.
To better serve the boating public and improve efficiency, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has made several changes to the program. Station operation hours have been extended, and some stations have been relocated or closed to better address AIS movement on watercraft.
FWP is expanding partnerships with local groups to assist with inspection station operation this season, including the Blackfeet Nation, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Missoula County, Garfield Conservation District and McCone Conservation District. Inspection stations will continue opening through May at strategic locations throughout the state.
To find a watercraft inspection station call the FWP Aquatic Invasive Species Bureau at 406-444-2440 or go to CleanDrainDryMT.com .
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