Missoula County Extension staff described the Clearwater watercraft inspection station and the county’s multi‑tiered approach to preventing aquatic invasive species, including inspections, monitoring and outreach.

The speaker said the program has inspected close to 30,000 boats annually at the Clearwater station since Extension began managing it in 2016 and that the statewide watercraft inspection program in Montana began at a minimal level around 2002 and ramped up about 2015. The speaker estimated roughly 60 “mussel foul” boats are caught each year at checkpoints entering Montana.

In addition to inspections, staff described survey and monitoring efforts that test water bodies for mussel larvae and sample aquatic plants so that detections can be pursued early for mitigation. Extension runs outreach including a webinar series on aquatic plant system management and partners with lakeshore homeowners, outfitters and volunteer networks to increase detection capacity.

The speaker emphasized Montana is currently free of zebra and quagga mussels, and described economic and ecological harms from established mussel populations elsewhere, citing clogged pipes, impacts to recreation and property values. The presentation was informational; no changes to inspection policy or funding were announced at the event.