FWP: 50,000 boats inspected for invasive species this summer

HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reports that more than 50,000 watercraft have been inspected for invasive species so far this summer.State officials say a dozen boats have been intercepted so far this summer, including three contaminated boats at the Anaconda check station on July 18th. FWP has also taken more than 500 samples from waters across the state and so far no samples have tested positive for invasive species.The state increased testing and mandated boat inspections after samples taken in 2016 showed possible mussel contamination in Canyon Ferry and Tiber reservoirs. Watercraft leaving Tiber and Canyon Ferry reservoirs must be inspected and decontaminated at an FWP decontamination station.“It’s important that people adhere to the watercraft regulations and get their boats inspected when they come into the state and when they cross the Continental Divide into the Columbia River Basin,” FWP AIS Bureau Chief Thomas Woolf said.Watercraft must also be inspected when entering into the Flathead River Basin.State officials are also stressing to "Clean, Drain, Dry" every time. Be sure your boat is clean, drained and dry every time it leaves the water. Make sure to clean off all weeds and debris, drain all water and dry all compartments. Also, pay close attention to live wells, ballast tanks and anywhere that can hold water. Click here for more information about Montana’s efforts to defend against aquatic invasive species.RELATED: Researchers check Flathead Lake for invasive speciesRELATED: FWP: Boaters must always stop at AIS inspection stations