Watercraft owners are reminded that they must stop at ALL open inspection stations.

Montana’s watercraft inspectors intercepted the 27th mussel-fouled vessel for the year.  Last Sunday, vacationers traveling from Michigan to Glacier National Park with a kayak strapped on their van stopped at Nashua inspection station where inspectors found a zebra mussel attached to the kayak’s hull.  The kayak had last been in Michigan’s Lake Cadillac, a known mussel-infested waterbody.  Inspectors thoroughly decontaminated the kayak before sending the vacationers on their way.

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are non-native plants, animals or pathogens that can invade new waterbodies by hitching a ride on watercraft and gear. AIS can include mussels, snails, fish, plant fragments or larva that can only be viewed under a microscope.

With the many fishing tournaments coming up this summer ALL boaters are reminded to stop at ALL watercraft inspection stations. In addition, all watercraft entering Montana are required to be inspected for aquatic invasive species and must obtain an inspection before launching on Montana waters. Remember, this includes not only nonresident boats entering the state, but also resident boats that were taken out of state and are reentering Montana.

Montana watercraft inspection stations have intercepted 13 boats carrying invasive mollusks into the state this year. As of May 30, inspectors have caught 12 boats with invasive zebra or quagga mussels and one boat with red rim melania snails attached to watercraft.

Boat owners transporting watercraft with ballast tanks will undergo additional cleaning at watercraft inspection stations to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Nonresident boaters and anglers will see new aquatic invasive species rules when they visit Montana this year. 

Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start to summer in Montana, and as boaters venture out to our rivers and lakes, please keep in mind the rules aimed at protecting our waters and preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species

On April 22, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Dillon watercraft inspection station intercepted a sailboat coming from Lake Pleasant, AZ, carrying invasive mussels. The boat owner was traveling north on Interstates 15 and 90 in route to northern Idaho. The sailboat was not launching in Montana.

Inspectors at the Dillon watercraft inspection station had a busy start to early season boat inspections.  Located south of Dillon on Interstate 15, the watercraft inspection station is staffed by crews of two seasonal FWP employees who check for aquatic invasive species (AIS) on boats traveling north.