State may join effort to halt spread of mussels

Kalispell senator's legislation advancing

Montana is on the verge of joining a broad effort aimed at curbing the proliferation of tiny freshwater mussels that have caused huge damage in other parts of the country.

Sen. Verdell Jackson, R-Kalispell, is sponsoring a bill that would start an education campaign and a program for preventing an invasion of zebra and quagga mussels in Montana. Senate Bill 343 is zipping through the legislative process with near-unanimous support, even though it will cost about $333,000 annually for the next two years.

"All down the line, people have supported it. It's kind of nice to have a bill that has so much support," Jackson said, referring to the bill's recent 47-3 approval in the Senate.

During a fiscally austere session, many bills with price tags have been dying off quickly.

"But this is in the governor's budget so that gives it a lot of momentum," Jackson said.

So far, the invasive and prolifically multiplying mussels have not appeared in Montana waters, but there is growing concern about the state not having any program in place to prevent it from eventually happening.

Jackson is sponsoring the bill at the request of the Flathead Lakers, and he has broad support from other conservation groups as well as recreation, business and utility interests.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that $5 billion has been spent in the Great Lakes region alone trying to combat a zebra mussel invasion that has been under way since they were first detected in Lake Ontario in 1988.

Carried by boats across state lines, the mussels since have spread to lakes and reservoirs in Arizona, Nevada, California, Colorado and Utah.

Jackson's bill states that without addressing the threat, Montana could incur millions of dollars in damage to rivers and lakes, water storage, delivery and irrigation systems and to hydroelectric dams. The mussels impact native aquatic species.

Jackson said perhaps the most important aspect of the bill is that it will result in an education campaign to raise awareness among boaters about the risks of boats entering Montana from other states.

"It's not going to succeed unless we get the cooperation of the boating public," Jackson said.

The bill will fund two positions for administering a program that will involve monitoring, inspections and check stations at fishing derbies and other boating events in Montana.

There will be about $83,000 in research grants for universities over the next biennium.

The program will be part of a broader "Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers' campaign that is mainly grounded in Internet and e-mail efforts.

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com