Flathead Lakers members and friends will gather to celebrate clean water and to learn about working across borders to prevent aquatic invasive species introductions at the Lakers' annual meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, at the Flathead Lake Biological Station at Yellow Bay.

Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available from 6:15 until the program begins.  

Keynote speaker Kate Wilson will share insights about aquatic invasive species prevention strategies. Wilson is the aquatic invasive species coordinator for the Province of Alberta. Prior to that she was the executive director for the Pend Oreille Basin Commission, a watershed advisory board in Sandpoint, Idaho.

She became a spokesperson for aquatic invasive species prevention, providing workshops, trainings and seminars throughout the Northwest. Wilson attended graduate school in Florida where she worked at the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants while earning a master's degree in natural resource communication, focusing on how to engage boaters and anglers in aquatic invasive species prevention.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist Linnaea Schroeer will present an update on Montana's AIS prevention and control efforts.

The Flathead Lakers will present their annual Stewardship Award to Bonnie Ellis for her significant contribution to understanding and protecting Flathead Lake. Her leadership in lake research and monitoring at the Flathead Lake Biological Station for more than 30 years has been vital to understanding the complex lake and river system and to guiding lake and water quality protection.

Flathead Lake Biological Station Director Jack Stanford will present the annual State of the Lake Report.  

The Flathead Lakers is a nonprofit organization working for clean water, healthy ecosystems and lasting quality of life in the Flathead Watershed. The board of directors welcomes the public to come learn more about Flathead waters and the organization's lake and water quality protection programs.

Contact the Lakers' office at 883-1346 for more information.