Flathead Basin Commission discusses invaders

PABLO — The Flathead Basin Commission met Wednesday to discuss the implications of Senate Bill 343, the regulation of zebra mussel and other invasive species bill.

The bill has already passed the Senate floor, the Senate Finance and Claims Committee and is now awaiting hearing in the House of Agriculture Committee.

“Our biggest concern is Flathead Lake,” said senator Verdell Jackson (R-Kalispell), the bill’s sponsor. He said the bill was requested by the Flathead Lakers, and he spent several weeks working with the departments of Agriculture and Fish, Wildlife and Parks to develop the bill.

The FBC presentation  provided an overview of the planning strategy and components to prevent the introduction of the zebra mussel, quagga mussel and Eurasian milfoil, along with a discussion of existing State Invasive Species Plan, a press release said.

Jackson said between 15-20 proponents have spoken in favor of the bill at every hearing.

The bill seeks to implement a statewide coordinated program to prevent, contain and eliminate invasive aquatic species: mainly the zebra and quagga mussels which are native to the Black and Caspian Sea and have spread from canals across Europe. They have no predators in Montana.

The muscles were introduced to the U.S. somewhere between 1985 and 1986, by the ballast water from ships. Lake St. Claire first found extensive invasives. As global transport has increased, so has the spread of the mussels.

Dr. Bonnie Ellis, a research professor of the Flathead Lake Biological Station, said that between 2004 and 2006 more than 100 boats attached with zebra mussels were intercepted. One was intercepted in Spokane.

The United States Geological Survey estimates that $5 billion has been spent in the Great Lakes Basin for damages and control efforts caused by the zebra mussels, according to the bill. The bill states that “the most cost-effective way of dealing with an aquatic invasive species is by preventing an infestation from occurring.”

The invasive mussels have not infested Montana, or the surrounding states of Wyoming, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota or Utah, Jackson said. However the muscles have spread to the nearby states of Arizona, Nevada and California. The mussels are quite established in the Colorado River system.

“They’re moving our way,” Jackson said.

The invasives are filter feeders. They filter about 1 liter of nutrient-rich water a day, and deposit unused food in the form of pseudo feces which is bound by a mucus inedible to fish.

Ellis said there are between 30,000-70,000 muscles per square meter found in the lake. That means more than 30,000 liters of water is filtered by them per day, per square meter.

“There’s long-term consequences,” Ellis said. She said the base of the food chain is affected by the muscles, as they feed on the same phyto and zoo plankton smaller fish need to survive. “They create tremendous problems for industry and recreation.”

“It alters the entire food web,” Ellis said, adding that native mussels also suffer. “Several thousand mussels attach to one native. Some native mussels are facing eminent extinction.”

The food chain aside, the invasives are notorious for quickly clogging pipes and adversely affecting power plants and city treatment plants, Ellis said. More than $270 million was spent between 1989 to 2004 in keeping pipes cleaned, she said.

The mussels mature in a year and an adult female produces 30,000 to 40,000 eggs each season. They are quickly fertilized and several hours later larvae appear and begin to feed on plankton. They establish at any depth, on any hard non-toxic surface.

The four goals of the bill are as follows, in order of importance: public awareness and education; prevention and detection of invasive species; management, control and restoration of infested areas; and emergency response.

“There’s no real affective way to get rid of the mussels,” Jackson said, noting that educational efforts are among the best solutions.

Simple cleaning of boats will prevent the spread of the invasives. The bill allows for two additional washing stations — the state currently has one portable washing station for boats — and two employees to run the statewide program.

The Flathead Lakers have done their part to keep the invasives at the border’s bay, as they have placed numerous signs around the Flathead Lake to encourage cleaning of boats.

“We get boats from all over in the summertime,” Ellis said, stressing the importance of invasive mussel education and control.

If the bill passes, the Department of Agriculture and FWP will create a detailed plan to prevent infestation.