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