Clean, drain, dry to stop aquatic
invaders
By Stephanie Lynn EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Tiny,
translucent zebra and quagga mussel larvae discovered in Tiber and Canyon Ferry
reservoirs and a fish kill caused by parasites on the Yellowstone River spurred
statewide action to prevent the spread of aquatic invaders in Montana three
years ago.
Aquatic
invasive species are organisms and parasites that multiply quickly to overtake
or harm native species when introduced to a new environment. They can damage
ecosystems, economies and even human health.
Motivated
by these events and a declaration of emergency by Gov. Steve Bullock in 2016, Montana
Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Montana Department of Natural Resources and
Conservation and partner organizations expanded their efforts to contain
foreign invaders, focused on public education and outreach, watercraft
inspection stations, early detection and monitoring, and rapid response
planning.
Early
identification and prevention are the most cost-effective methods to stop
foreign species from infecting water bodies. Once established, aquatic invaders
are expensive and nearly impossible to eliminate.
One
study by Nanette Nelson, an economist with the Flathead Lake Biological Station
and University of Montana, estimated that if zebra and quagga mussels colonize
all water bodies across Montana with maximum potential, they could cost the
state a conservative $384.8 to $731.4 million in mitigation, lost revenue and
property values. The report focused on direct impacts, concluding that
stakeholders in tourism, hydropower and irrigation would suffer the greatest
losses.
Invaders
carried by river users threaten the shores of the Gallatin. The same parasite
that caused massive fish die-offs on the Yellowstone River was identified in
the Gallatin River in 2017.
Watercrafts,
both motorized and non-motorized, are the main vector responsible for carrying
invasive plants, snails, clams, mussels, crayfish, fish or pathogens from one
body of water to another according to FWP. Foreign organisms proliferate by
attaching to hulls, motors or trailers; hitchhiking in ballast water, bilges,
pumps, live wells, bait buckets and other water-containing devices; and
clinging to fishing gear, waders, nets and downriggers.
Recreationists
can halt the spread of alien organisms by stopping at all watercraft inspection
stations and properly decontaminating their boats, trailers and gear. FWP and
partner organizations maintain 35 stations statewide where they inspected over
100,000 watercraft and intercepted 16 boats entering Montana with zebra and
quagga mussels in 2018.
Boaters,
paddlers and anglers can do their part to keep the Gallatin, and other water
bodies in Montana, healthy by following three easy steps to disinfect their
gear:
- Clean: Remove all
water and vegetation from gear and clean with water and a stiff brush.
Chemicals are not needed.
- Drain: Drain any
water from equipment, including bait buckets, at the access point. Use a sponge
for items that cannot be drained.
- Dry: Dry your
equipment thoroughly. The longer you keep your waders and other equipment
outside and in the hot sun between trips, the better.
These
simple actions are critical to protect Montana’s economy, fisheries and way of
life. To date, efforts to contain the spread of invasive species in Montana
have been effective. A 2018 survey of over 1,450 sites on 250 bodies of water
detected no mussel larvae or adults in Montana.
Together,
we can stop the spread of alien species. Clean, drain, dry for a healthy
Gallatin River.
Stephanie Lynn is the education and
communications coordinator for the Gallatin River Task Force. Reporting for
this piece was contributed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Gallatin
Invasive Species Alliance.