Mussel pricetag could be $10 million

The Montana Mussel Response team set out a proposed budget to state lawmakers Monday for invasive mussel control in Montana, with a price tag of about $10.2 million for the next two years.

The funding proposal calls for decontamination stations at infested waterways, doubling the number of inspection stations across the state from 17 to 34 and increasing the number of annual water samples to 1,500 at 206 water bodies. The plan would also fund education and outreach efforts and strengthen the state’s overall effort.

About half the cost could be covered by federal matching grants. It will be up to lawmakers to actually fund the measure.

Last week, the team announced that it has lifted the emergency restrictions on the launch or removal of all boats, docks and other structures for Tiber and Canyon Ferry reservoirs.

Restrictions on boating on the reservoirs has been in place since Dec. 1 after invasive mussel larvae were found in both reservoirs, but both reservoirs have since iced up and the potential for transmission of larvae is very low, noted deputy incident commander Charlie Sperry during a conference call.

Invasive quagga and zebra mussels and their larvae aren’t active in water temperatures below 48 degrees. No adult mussels have been found on either water body to date.

Sperry said ice fishers are still reminded to clean, dry and inspect their equipment if they fish the reservoirs this winter.

The state, however, is expected to reopen the reservoirs to boating and fishing this spring when the ice breaks up. Sperry said there will be decontamination stations and the placement of check stations near the reservoirs as well, though exact details are still be worked out.

“Ultimately our goal is to allow the public to continue to use the reservoirs,” he said.

Glacier National Park and the Blackfeet Reservation have banned all boats and other watercraft on their waters for the time being. Glacier’s Lake McDonald is still largely ice-free. The Park has put chain barriers up on the boat launch with signs noting the waters are closed.