Labor Day weekend marked the conclusion of the summer boating season in Montana. With the decrease in boating traffic, some watercraft inspection stations are reducing hours or closing for the season. 

Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Bureau of Reclamation are meeting to discuss potential locations and improvements for aquatic invasive species facilities at Tiber Reservoir. 

With the proliferation of adult quagga mussels in Lake Powell, on the border of Utah and Arizona, watercraft from this lake that are entering Montana will be subject to additional measures at watercraft inspection stations to ensure they are free from aquatic invasive species.

With summer half over, more than 50,000 watercraft have been inspected at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks aquatic invasive species inspection stations around the state.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ wardens would like to remind watercraft users that they must stop every time they pass an AIS inspection station, even if they have previously been inspected.

Memorial Day in Montana is the unofficial start to summer, and as boaters flock to the amazing rivers and lakes across the state, they need to keep in mind the new rules aimed at limiting and preventing aquatic invasive species from spreading.

Boaters have an additional opportunity to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species with the opening of an additional watercraft inspection station in Kalispell.

After public input, Fish, Wildlife and Parks is changing its access plan for Tiber Reservoir this year, keeping a focus preventing the spread of invasive mussels, while providing adequate access to the reservoir.

Snowbird coming home?  Have a boat? Be sure to get it inspected.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will continue to focus on protecting Montana’s waterways, way of life and outdoor economy from the impacts of invasive species. This effort will require changes to how visitors use Tiber Reservoir.