Pachyderm Meeting | Protecting Against Mussels by Tom Bansak Asst. Director of Flathead Bio Station

Photo Credit: CSKT No Mussels Call to Action Website Source

Tom Bansak assistant manager of the Flathead Biological Station in Polson will be giving an update on the efforts to protect water resources from invasive waterborne species. As well as how everyday citizens can raise awareness and play a part in protecting Flathead Lake as people vacation this summer.

Photo Credit: FLBS on Tom Bansak source

Current state regulations to control invasive waterborne species in Montana will be covered. As well as on a local level how officials are trying to intercept the mussels before they reach Flathead Lake. 

There are inspection stations that boats and watercraft must to go through to catch and remove any mussels.

For example, people coming in from fishing tournaments held in contaminated waters, some of whose participants travel in to participate in Mack Days Tournament on Flathead Lake. Consequently, risk of contamination is high without the boat inspections supervised. All boats registered for Mack days must present a boat inspection certificate.

Billions of dollars of lost revenues are at stake as the whole Columbia Watershed could become contaminated.

Please come learn about how to protect our beautiful Flathead Lake with volunteer opportunities such as walking the lake to identify and remove Mussels.

[ Tom Bansak is a freshwater ecologist who came to the Flathead Lake Biological as a graduate student in 1996 and presently serves as the FLBS Assistant Director. Along the way, Tom has been a research scientist, research coordinator, educator, education/outreach coordinator and development coordinator.]

To read more and get his contact information: FLBS Website

Additional resources and news stories:

CSKT, Flathead Lake is an Extraordinary Place,

Let's Keep it that Way Help Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels

NBC Montana, Biologists work to prevent invasive mussels species in Flathead Lake

Daily Interlake, Mussel Watchers Hit Flathead Lake

Pachyderm Meeting | Lake County Deputy Attorney on Pretrial Services Pilot Program

James Lapotka, deputy county attorney of Lake County at the next Pachyderm Meeting will be discussing the Pretrial Services pilot program coming soon to the Lake county court system as part of a legislative effort to increase efficiency and reduce overall costs over time.

Gallatin county has implemented Pretrial and re-entry services. The county reportedly has seen reduced recidivism rates and cost savings over time. The cultural component in Lake County remains to be seen as Native American citizens charged with crimes may respond differently to interventions to get people to show up and follow through with their court trial. One example might be providing TrackPhones to people for a probation officer to be able to give them reminder calls the day of the trial. Interventions tested on mainstream populations may need to be adapted on a minority subculture. The results will be a part of the legal research to improve the correctional system.

Last month, a training was provided to a variety of staff from the police department, county civil and criminal legal department on how to implement the pilot project in Lake County. The goal appears to be that citizens charged with crimes will be notified, motivated, tracked to be moved through the legal system faster -- so it is less disruptive to their life, chances for rehabilitation and LESS expensive for the court system to have drawn out legal cases. In addition, the tracking and research in a county provides a district judges with case history research on key factors in a risk assessment report applied to each person which places them in low to high risk category of re-committing a crime, so judges can more informed decisions on court orders and appeals.

He will be speaking on 5/11 Friday from noon-1pm at the Rural Fire hall off of Regatta Road. Please come and bring questions and friends.

Coffee, tea and cookies will be provided.

Photo Credit: James Lapotka in the Valley Journal Article http://www.valleyjournal.net/Article/13256/Judge-deputy-county-attorney-discuss-drug-problem-solutions

Pachyderm Meeting | Director of Operations of Boys and Girls Club April 27th noon-1pm

You are invited to hear Amy Vaughan the Director of Operations for the Boy and Girls Club share updates on ways the organization is building capacity through-out Lake county and having a positive impact on the lives of youth. B&G Club is planning a new facility in Polson across from the Middle School which will include a Community Center.

Boys and Girls Club Field Trip on Flathead Indian Reservation

Photo Credit: Boys and Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation and Lake County https://www.flatheadbgc.org/photos

For questions, email Michel Delgado fdmdelgado@gmail.com