Invasive mussels spotted in Lewis and Clark County

An invasive species that’s been known to spread rapidly, has been spotted two counties over from Lincoln County.

After mussel larvae was detected, Glacier National Park moved shut down boating in all of the park’s waters, which could last well into next spring. The Blackfeet Nation also closed its waters to boats soon after the news broke, as did officials who oversee the Creston fish hatchery pond.

According to the Montana Natural Resources and Conservation website, a suspect Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks sample from Canyon Ferry near Helena was found on Oct. 28, and the Tiber Reservoir east of Shelby has tested positive for the larvae of aquatic mussels.

While zebra and quagga mussels haven’t been in Lincoln County yet, the invasive species have been known to spread quickly. 

These mussels not only impact the environment of waters, but also impact the performance of boats if they attach to the motors, and on infrastructure such as hydroelectric dams.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game warden Tami Laverdure said that while they don’t have a presence in Lincoln County, there is always reason for concern when it comes to invasive species.

“It’s why we set up those check stations,” Laverdure said. “Some people blow past them thinking that it’s not a big deal, but it’s a huge deal.”

The check stations she refers to are part of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Montana’s mandatory roadside watercraft inspection stations. The stations inspect the boats for contaminants such as weeds and illegal activity. They also provide a free wash-down to the boats, to prevent the spreading of invasive species.

Fish, Wildlife & Parks and other entities have been actively monitoring for zebra and quagga mussels for over a decade. Since 2005, Canyon Ferry has been sampled for aquatic invasive mussels routinely without a suspect sample until this year.

According to press release on Nov. 23, response efforts for both Tiber and Canyon Ferry Reservoirs are being coordinated by an interagency response team that includes staff from FWP, the DNRC, Bureau of Reclamation and Montana Invasive Species Advisory Council.