Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks staff at watercraft inspection stations across the state have so far checked nearly 10,000 watercraft for invasive mussel larvae this year, according to a news release.

The discovery of mussel larvae in water samples from Tiber Reservoir last fall and the sample from Canyon Ferry Reservoir that was suspect for the larvae prompted a significant increase in such prevention efforts.

“This year all watercraft coming into Montana from out of state must be inspected prior to launching,” the news release states. “The same holds true for all watercraft traveling across the Continental Divide into the Columbia River Basin. Also, watercraft leaving Tiber and Canyon Ferry Reservoirs must be inspected and, if necessary, decontaminated.”

All watercraft must stop when they encounter an inspection station. Wardens have written over 35 citations for not stopping at inspection stations, the news release states.

Agency staff have also started collecting water samples statewide looking for invasive mussel larvae.

“So far monitoring crews have collected about 60 samples and samples will continue to be collected and analyzed throughout the season,” the news release states. “Before the season is over, more than 1,000 samples from waterbodies across the state will be analyzed.”

For more information visit musselresponse.mt.gov.