Help keep Flathead Lake free of aquatic invaders
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Editor,
I'm sure that everyone who understands how devastating a zebra mussel infestation would be for Flathead waters shares my relief that further testing of suspicious samples from Flathead Lake showed no evidence of zebra mussels. As relieved as we are, this should be seen as a wake-up call, not a reason for complacency.
Our clean and beautiful streams, rivers and lakes are part of what make the Flathead special and are a priceless economic asset that benefits us all.
Exotic zebra and quagga mussels are a real threat to our waters. If introduced here, they would cause millions of dollars in damage to docks, boat motors, water pipes, Kerr Dam, and any other structure in the water. They would forever change Flathead Lake, its fisheries and aquatic life.
We can prevent exotic invaders. Minnesota is a shining example of how well-funded education and prevention work can keep invaders from spreading. It is vital to the health of Flathead waters to increase efforts to prevent exotic invaders from spreading here.
You can be part of the solution:
• Ask your legislators to support amending the Aquatic Invasive Species Act (SB 343) to allow mandatory boat inspections for boats coming into Montana or being towed from one water body to another.
• Ask your legislators to support funding for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Dept. of Agriculture to combat this threat.
• Tell your friends and relatives who bring a boat from out of state to make sure it is clean and dry before launching.
• Everyone should clean and dry their boat and trailer (including the bilge and any nooks and crannies) before moving from one water body to another.
Keep in mind that it is much easier and cheaper to prevent invasions than control and deal with them once they are established. Our investment in prevention will pay off many times over.
Dick Siderius,
President, Flathead Lakers
Somers
