Two Eagle students look for invasive species
<p>Twelve students for Two Eagle River came to Polson Monday morning to learn about mussels on boats and in lakes. The group split up and covered three different areas scanning the shorelines for mussels.</p>
<p>A sample of what mussels look like sits on the table as Two Eagle River students listen to instructions at the Natural Resources and Conservation Department building in Polson before hitting the shoreline.</p>
<p>Mark Johnston of the Flathead Lakers and students from TER; Sacred Mahkuk, Nina Hernandez, and Lee Atwan, kick over rocks looking for mussels along the shoreline at Salish Point Monday morning.</p>
On Monday, 12 Two Eagle River students came to Polson to learn about invasive species, including mussels. Afterward, they spent over an hour scouring the beaches near Elmo, Blue Bay, and Salish Point, looking for these mussels.
Stephanie Fisher, a science teacher for Two Eagle, said she received an email a few weeks ago asking to bring a group of students. “It’s a good opportunity, a good program,” she said.
Heidi Sedivy, a program manager for the watercraft inspection program at the Blackfeet check stations, spoke to the kids about what they should be looking for when searching for mussels. They like to live in wet, dark places, and usually settle in a spot where there are angles, such as docks. Sedivy, who also works with the Flathead Basin Commission in education outreach, said they had the idea to do something with students at an Aquatic Invasive Species group meeting.
It all came into fruition a few weeks ago, when Mike Durglo of the Environmental Protection Division for the CSKT Tribes brought the idea to life. Sedivy said it was a good time to do the project because the water is low enough to get a good luck at the shoreline and docks.
With help from adults, the Two Eagle River students split up and walked the shorelines, turning over rocks and looking in dark areas. If a mussel was spotted, the area could be marked with a GPS coordinate. If not, the kids got to enjoy the nice day while learning how to keep the lake free of invasive species.
After walking the shores, the kids went back to the Natural Resources Department in Polson for lunch. While some students brought back suspicious finger nail clams in plastic bags, no invasive species were discovered.