Zebra scare delays lake cleanup

Fragments of invasive zebra mussel shells were found on boats to be used in the cleanup project at Mackinaw Bay on Whitefish Lake. The discovery has city officials on high alert about Montana’s perceivably weak aquatic invasive species inspection protocol.

Mayor John Muhlfeld reported the findings of zebra mussel fragments to city councilors at the May 21 meeting.

The crushed zebra shells and suspect biological materials were discovered on several boats during both Level I and Level II inspections conducted by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Flathead Basin Commission. One of the boats was flagged with suspect organisms at an inspection station in Idaho while en route to Whitefish. Some of the other boats were previously on waters in California, Idaho and in the Midwest.

Crews decontaminated the boats last week with hot-water pressure washers, according to Steve Merritt, EPA on-scene coordinator for lake cleanup efforts.

The boats were also quarantined on land to dry out the mussels.

“The goal is to kill and get rid of the organisms,” Merritt said.

Work to clean up a historic diesel spill in the lake was planned to start May 21 and last through June. Launching of several vessels, however, was delayed until May 29. Up to a dozen boats will be used to clean up the lake.

Meritt said they are taking the matter seriously. He said each of the vessels to be used in the cleanup have been inspected for invasive organisms three times and thoroughly cleaned and dried. He’s very confident they have been properly decontaminated.

The city has requested more stringent protocols prior to any other boats being launched for cleanup work on the lake or the Whitefish River. Those protocols include visual inspection, thorough decontamination and proper quarantine time. Whitefish Lake Institute will serve as the city’s liaison during inspections.

First discovered in the U.S. in the Great Lakes in the 1980s, zebra mussels have since spread throughout the Midwestern and mid-Atlantic states. A predator doesn’t exist in the U.S. to keep exotic mussels numbers in check.

They can reproduce and spread rapidly, especially on hard surfaces like docks, piers and boat hulls — even the shells of living organisms, such as lobsters and clams. The mussels can also block water intake pipes, clog irrigation systems, disrupt water purification and hydropower plant operations, and may impact fishery populations.

Muhlfeld is concerned about the dire impact zebra mussels could have on Whitefish’s economy and way of life if introduced to the lake. He said Montana’s regulations to prevent aquatic invasive species pale in comparison to other states.

“Having studied zebra mussels, once they get in a lake, there’s no turning back,” Muhlfeld said.

“The city of Whitefish and various developments, including Iron Horse, rely upon Whitefish Lake as a source of their municipal water supply, and recreation,” Muhlfeld wrote in a letter to Merritt. “In addition, Whitefish Lake is one of the key economic assets to our community, which we believe as city officials, must be protected in perpetuity for existing and future generations of Montanans.”

Beyond monitoring cleanup vessels, the city has the ability to amp up the invasive species inspection process of recreational boats at City Beach. Council will consider implementing a full-time inspection program during a June 19 work session. Funds to pay for that program would come out of the city’s budget.

Muhlfeld argues that the economic implications of zebra mussels in Whitefish Lake likely trump the cost of employing inspectors at City Beach.

He notes the State Park boat launch in Dog Bay — under the state’s jurisdiction — would follow state protocol.

“State protocol in not sufficient,” he said.