Founder and executive director of the Whitefish Lake Institute, Mike Koopal, and limnologist Cassie Roberts shared good news and bad news regarding water quality issues with the Whitefish City Council last week. 

They covered aquatic invasive species, the Town Pump release update, the effects of fireworks, BTEX, four volatile organic compounds, and PFAS, also known as forever chemicals. 

Koopal said 24 mussel-fouled boats have been intercepted in Montana so far this year. Two of them were headed to Whitefish. 

The Whitefish Lake Institute is continuing to work with Montana Fish, Parks and Wildlife to manage Eurasian watermilfoil in Beaver Lake. A diving event in June produced only one plant. 

Similar success was reported with the management of curly-leaf pondweed in Haskill Creek. The agencies have determined that the infestation is limited to the area between Monegan Road and Voerman Road. 

“We’re interested in all animals and plants that are invasive,” Koopal said. “There's a new one on the horizon here, the Chinese mystery snail.” 

He said it is larger than native snails and that dead ones have been found in Flathead Lake. 

The Town Pump releases have been an ongoing issue in Whitefish since 1989. A release is another word for the spilling or leaking of a hazardous substance or pollutant into the water and soil.  

Koopal presented a thorough chronology of the events, including the removal of about 2,500 cubic yards of contaminated soil in 1989. In 2005, benzene levels were found to be 152 ug/l when the maximum level set for benzene in surface water and groundwater by the EPA is zero. In 2015, the area has been treated with about 2.5 million gallons of hydrogen peroxide. 

This year, the Town Pump’s consultant/contractor is currently preparing a work plan to remediate petroleum contaminated groundwater at the facility to be submitted to DEQ. 

“Not very good news,” Koopal said. “This has been going on for 22 years. This is one of many releases in the state. This is a release in our town, in our river.” 

Koopal suggested the council ask the DEQ questions and request more communication from the agency. 

Roberts said the maximum amount of perchlorates at City Beach on July 5, after the holiday fireworks, was .15 parts per billion. Not all states have a set perchlorate standard. Maine’s is the lowest at .8 parts per billion. 

“This is one year, but it gives us a baseline to say where we stand,” Roberts said. “Les Mason actually peaked a week after July fourth ... it could have been wind drift from City Beach to the state park. They [perchlorates] are staying in the water.” 

Koopal added that perchlorates are highly soluble and have varied effects on health. 

While the city does have an ordinance calling for non-perchlorate fireworks, they are difficult to find. 

Roberts said that in 2007, benzene and toluene levels were high in Whitefish Lake. The two compounds are evidence of boat gas in the water.  

In 2014, the city installed an interception trench and hydrodynamic device at the beach, and a recent study showed a remarkable decrease in the amount of boat gas constituents. The levels are nearly undetectable. 

The Whitefish Lake Institute is in the process of testing samples from Whitefish Lake, Whitefish River and First, Second and Third Creeks for PFAS. PFAS are called forever chemicals because they persist in the human body and in the environment and take thousands of years to break down.