As of 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24…
Last Friday, Feb. 17 I learned that the Clearwater Junction boat check station was going to be moved north up Highway 83.
On Monday the 20th, it was likely going to be eliminated altogether.
As of Tuesday the 21st, it is going to remain at the Junction, but only check boats moving from west to east. Yes, that’s right: west to east. That’s because three new check stations will be on Highway 200 near Lincoln, US-12 west of Helena, and I-90 west of Butte to inspect boats moving from east to west.
These new stations are part of the firewall that is planned along the continental divide. None of this is written in stone yet. The constantly changing picture, to me, is a good sign that the Incident Team has an open mind and is considering all options. I have found the Team to be completely receptive to outside input and to do 180-degree turn-around based on that input.
Swan Valley Connections and the Blackfoot Challenge are developing Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) monitoring programs based on the program that the Clearwater Resource Council has been running in our valley since 2011. The three organizations, working together and working closely with the Mussel Response Incident Command Team, are developing a regional plan for prevention, monitoring and outreach that starts with the state plan and adds extra layers of protection and monitoring for our local waters.
The first part of the 2017 plan includes collecting samples right after ice-off to test for the mussels. Last year, 108 boats that had been in Tiber or Canyon Ferry came through the check station destined for our lakes. If mussels were introduced, this is our last chance to detect them before they begin reproducing. The Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited has stepped forward to support this planning and sampling effort, as has the Southwest Crown of the Continent Collaborative.
Whatever the final plans become, I know that the best protective measures we can take to keep the mussels out will require local citizens to step up and help on the lakes and at the boat launches. If you are interested in helping, even if for just a couple hours a month, please contact me: joann@crcmt.org or call 210-8453.
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