Boating opportunities are now available on St. Mary and Two Medicine lakes on the east side of Glacier National Park. Park officials on Monday said it’s the first time since 2019 that boating has been available on these lakes.

The Blackfeet Tribe and Glacier National Park has entered into a contractual agreement for the aquatic invasive species stations to be operated by tribal inspectors.

Motorized boat inspections from Montana State, Whitefish Lake, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Blackfeet Tribe and Waterton Lakes National Park are accepted but a 30-day quarantine of motorized boats before use in park waters continues to be required. Non-motorized watercrafts must obtain an inspection upon each entry to the park.

Park officials attribute the boating closure on the lakes to Covid-19 and lingering staffing challenges. In 2021 and 2022, the park attempted to operate the stations but were unsuccessful in recruiting enough staff to work all locations. Discussions began with the Blackfeet Tribe in 2022 to negotiate the use of tribal inspectors, according to the release.

This will be the first season motorized boating will be allowed on St. Mary Lake since mussels were detected in Montana in 2016. St. Mary, Two Medicine and Lake McDonald are the only lakes in Glacier National Park that allow motorized boating, except for Bowman Lake that allows less than 10 horsepower, non-water-cooled motors.

Aquatic invasive species inspections are required for protection against non-native species that can devastate native aquatic ecosystems, as well as negatively change visitor use and enjoyment of waterways.

The St. Mary and Two Medicine aquatic invasive species stations will operate from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. seven days a week. The St. Mary station will be located at the St. Mary Visitor Center and the Two Medicine station is located prior to the park entrance.