EBS STAFF
BOZEMAN – At
the end of September, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks released statistics from
the 2019 boating season reporting on whether aquatic invasive species were discovered
in locations throughout the state.
Overall, 110,000
boats were inspected at mandatory check stations throughout Montana. Many of
these inspection stations closed at the end of September, but a few located in
high-risk corridors will remain open through October.
Of those
watercrafts inspected by FWP, which includes rafts, canoes, drift boats, kayaks
and motorboats, 14 intercepted were transporting zebra or quagga mussels from
out of state, while over 100 were carrying aquatic weeds.
All boaters
in Montana are required to stop at watercraft inspection stations.
Additionally, nonresidents planning to bring a watercraft into Montana are now
required to purchase an annual Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Pass from
FWP, which was initiated by the 2019 Montana Legislature.
“Protecting
Montana’s waters relies on making sure we address the threat of boaters
bringing zebra or quagga mussels, or other aquatic invasive species, into the
state,” said Martha Williams, director of FWP, in a press release. “All
the mussel-fouled boats that have been intercepted to date have come from out
of state.”
The
department reminds recreationists that all watercraft and trailers should be
clean, drained and dried before transport. Montana requires inspections for all
watercraft coming into Montana from out of state, all watercraft traveling west
across the Continental Divide into the Columbia River Basin and all watercraft
launching anywhere within the Flathead Basin that were last launched on waters
outside of the Flathead Basin.
