Montana Just Came So Close to Invasive Mussels in Georgetown Lake

While Montana remains free of established invasive mussels, we breathe a heavy sigh of relief that they remain that way after an incident this week.

CATASTROPHE AVERTED JUST A FEW MILES FROM LAUNCH SITE

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks tells us that the exceptional skills of inspectors at the Anaconda boat check station stopped an invasive mussel-fouled wake boat from Minnesota earlier this week from potentially introducing zebra mussels into Montana waters.

The boat, which was on its way to Georgetown Lake, was transporting hundreds of zebra mussels, some attached to the boat and some attached to pieces of Eurasian watermilfoil, another invasive species, on the trailer. The boat also had ballast tanks, which never completely drain, making them a good environment for transporting mussels.

The boater was unaware that he was transporting mussels. After the inspectors decontaminated the boat, it was locked to the trailer and FWP wardens responded to ensure it would not launch.

ALIVE AND KICKING? PROBABLY

Because the boat had only been out of the water for four days, inspectors suspected that the mussels were still viable. Mussels can survive up to 30 days out of the water.

Tom Wolf, FWP Aquatic Invasive Species Bureau Chief, was quoted as saying, “Boats like this can ruin Montana’s waters forever. This is a boat that would have introduced mussels.”

The boater was unaware that he was transporting mussels. After the inspectors decontaminated the boat, it was locked to the trailer and FWP wardens responded to ensure it would not launch.

So far this year, watercraft inspectors in Montana have inspected more than 42,000 watercraft; 17 of those were mussel-fouled.

Remember to stop at ALL open inspection stations you encounter in Montana. For more information on what you can do to help keep Montana waterways invasive mussel-free, visit this page of the Montana FWP website.

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Gallery Credit: Stacker

Filed Under: Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks

Categories: Montana News