Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials said today that aquatic invasive species inspection stations and roving inspection crews have begun to operate across the state at key border crossing sites, along major highways, and on heavily used water bodies beginning this week.
By law boaters must stop at AIS inspection stations for a brief interview and inspection.
Boaters are urged to inspect, clean and dry boats, trailers and gear exposed to the water to ensure they don’t carry organisms from one water body to another, whether they plan to travel an inspection route or not.
“At the inspection stations, boats and trailers will be carefully inspected and boaters can learn more about how to identify invasive species and prevent their spread from one water body to the next,” said Eileen Ryce, FWP fisheries biologist who heads the aquatic invasive species program.
The most likely aquatic invasive species threats to Montana waters include quagga and zebra mussels, New Zealand Mudsnails, and Eurasian watermilfoil.
Inspection stations and roving crews will be operating throughout the boating season in these locations:
Clearwater Junction rest area
Eureka Hwy 37 West bound
Ronan Hwy 93 North bound rest area
Culbertson Hwy 2 West bound rest area
Dena Mora I-90 East bound rest area
Dillon I-15 North bound
Hardin I-90 rest area
Swan Area
Madison River drainage
Bitterroot River drainage
Roving crews will also work at fishing tournaments and other boating events.
Remember to Inspect, Clean, Dry.
“Inspect. Clean. Dry.”
You’ll hear that a lot in Montana this summer.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Montana Department of Agriculture reminds Montanans and visitors to “inspect, clean, and dry,” boats, trailers and fishing gear to “Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!”
As part of the state’s prevention program, FWP will have boat inspection stations set up around the state. It is mandatory that boaters stop at these check stations.
The “Inspect. Clean. Dry.” slogan draws attention to a national problem threatening to take root in the West—aquatic hitchhikers. These life forms are non-native, harmful aquatic plants, animals or microscopic organisms—everything from zebra mussels to whirling disease—that can be transported from water to water by popular recreational activities like fishing and boating.
The cost of invasive species damages in the U.S. amounts to more than $100 billion each year.
“Montana’s best defense against invasive species is to inspect, clean, and dry boats, trailers, and fishing gear after each use,” said Eileen Ryce, FWP’s aquatic nuisance species coordinator in Helena. “We can control the spread of these invasive plant and animal species if we don’t carry them from one water to the next.”
Always remember to:
Inspect - After leaving a lake or stream, inspect your boat, engine, trailer, anchor, waders, boots, and other fishing and boating gear for mud, water, and vegetation that could carry aquatic invasive species.
Clean - Completely remove all mud, water, and vegetation you find. Boaters should use a pressurized power sprayer, found at most do-it-yourself car washes. The hot water helps kill organisms and the pressure removes mud and vegetation. No need to use soap or chemicals.
Dry - Aquatic invaders can survive only in water and wet areas. By draining and drying your boat and fishing gear thoroughly, you will kill most invasive species. The longer you keep your boat, trailer, waders and other gear outside in the hot sun between trips, the better.
“If boaters and anglers get into the habit of carrying out this preventative maintenance, we’ll be able to decrease the number of troubling, expensive, unintentional introductions of harmful species in Montana,” Ryce said.
Reader Comments(0)