Flathead Lakers

Flathead Lakers Working for clean water, healthy ecosystems and lasting quality of life in the Flathead watershed in northwestern Montana.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Bunker's Bar & Grill in Polson last night for our first summer Science on Tap.Ed ...
06/04/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Bunker's Bar & Grill in Polson last night for our first summer Science on Tap.

Ed Gannon unpacked the science of phosphorus in Flathead Lake -- what feeds algae blooms, how water clarity reflects nutrient levels, and what each of us can do to reduce the load we put on the lake.

Huge thanks to Ed, Flathead Lake Biological Station, and Bunker's for hosting us. Science on Tap continues the first Wednesday of every month through September.

Next up: July 2. Topic and speaker coming soon.

Science on Tap is TONIGHT -- and we have a new summer home.Join us at 6:30 PM at Bunker's Bar & Grill in Polson for Ed G...
06/03/2026

Science on Tap is TONIGHT -- and we have a new summer home.

Join us at 6:30 PM at Bunker's Bar & Grill in Polson for Ed Gannon on phosphorus in Flathead Lake -- what drives algae blooms, what it means for water clarity, and why it matters for the lake we love.

Bunker's Bar & Grill, Polson
6:30-7:50 PM | $5 -- supports watershed education

Grab a ticket at the link in bio.

Made it to the border! Our volunteer AIS sign crew traveled the North Fork of the Flathead all the way to the Canadian b...
06/02/2026

Made it to the border! Our volunteer AIS sign crew traveled the North Fork of the Flathead all the way to the Canadian border last week, posting 8 new aquatic invasive species signs at popular river access sites along the corridor.

The signs are a clear reminder for every floater, angler, and boater to Clean, Drain, and Dry their gear before moving between waters — keeping the Flathead free of invasive mussels starts right at the put-in.

Huge thanks to the volunteers for putting in the miles to make it happen.

Mark your calendars: the 2026 Flathead Lakers Annual Meeting is on Wednesday, June 17 at The Barn at Finley Point.Social...
06/01/2026

Mark your calendars: the 2026 Flathead Lakers Annual Meeting is on Wednesday, June 17 at The Barn at Finley Point.

Social hour starts at 5:00 PM. The program follows at 6:00 PM.

We'll look back at the past year's work, share updates on what's ahead for the watershed, and hear from guest speakers. There will also be refreshments, appetizers, and time to connect with fellow members and lake advocates.

More details coming soon. We'd love to see you there.

Mussel boat #11 this season — intercepted at the Dillon station on May 25th.A recently purchased inboard/outboard last ...
05/28/2026

Mussel boat #11 this season — intercepted at the Dillon station on May 25th.

A recently purchased inboard/outboard last launched in Lake Mead three years ago was stopped heading to Stevensville, MT. Mussels were found in the engine exhaust port — a tough spot to find and exactly the kind of hidden location that makes used boat purchases so risky.

A full decontamination was completed on site. The boat is currently out of commission for repairs, which means it won’t be hitting any Montana water anytime soon — but without that inspection stop, it could have.

Lake Mead is one of the most mussel-infested reservoirs in the country. Three years out of the water wasn’t enough. The mussels were still there.

Great catch, team Dillon. 👏

Join us to make a Climate Conversation about Highwat 93 EV Charging Stations Plan in the face of climate change, with gu...
05/28/2026

Join us to make a Climate Conversation about Highwat 93 EV Charging Stations Plan in the face of climate change, with guest Karl Sutton, REAP and Brownfields Manager with Lake County Community Devevelopment Corporation.

Please bring a dish or finger foods to share.

For more information, contact [email protected].

Mussel-fouled boat #10 intercepted this season — and this one almost made it to Idaho.On May 9th, Montana FWP’s Dillon ...
05/27/2026

Mussel-fouled boat #10 intercepted this season — and this one almost made it to Idaho.

On May 9th, Montana FWP’s Dillon inspection station stopped a pontoon boat that had last been launched in Lake Havasu, Arizona just five weeks ago. Mussels were found hiding in the lifting strakes and under the transducer. The boat had been purchased in the Lake Havasu area and was headed to Post Falls, ID — with Lake Coeur d’Alene as the planned next launch site.

FWP performed a full decontamination on site, notified Idaho fish and wildlife, and a game warden is following up with the boater.

Lake Havasu sits on the Colorado River system, one of the most heavily mussel-infested waterways in the country. Five weeks out of that water was not enough. The mussels were still there.

This is why Montana’s inspection stations matter — not just for Flathead Lake, but for every water body downstream.

Summer Science on Tap is back — and we’re running all summer long.Join us June 3 for the first talk of the season: Ed Ga...
05/27/2026

Summer Science on Tap is back — and we’re running all summer long.

Join us June 3 for the first talk of the season: Ed Gannon on phosphorus in Flathead Lake. From water clarity to algae blooms, he’ll cover the science, the risks, and what we can do about it. First Wednesday of every month, June through September, at Bunker’s Bar & Grill in Polson. 6:30 PM, $5.

🎟️ Tickets: givebutter.com/science-on-tap-june-2026-xxmbod

Another mussel-fouled boat intercepted on its way to Flathead Lake.On May 1st, Montana FWP stopped a cabin cruiser at th...
05/26/2026

Another mussel-fouled boat intercepted on its way to Flathead Lake.

On May 1st, Montana FWP stopped a cabin cruiser at the Wibaux inspection station that had been purchased in Minnesota and was headed to Polson. Zebra or quagga mussels were found encrusted on the boat’s gimbal — the kind of hidden, hard-to-spot location that makes Great Lakes boats so risky.

This is exactly the pathway we’ve been tracking: boats moving from mussel-infested Great Lakes waters directly into the Flathead watershed. FWP has required a 30-day dry period and a follow-up inspection before the boat enters any Montana water.

This is why inspection stations exist. This is why AIS education matters. Flathead Lake has never had zebra or quagga mussels. We intend to keep it that way.

If you live on Flathead Lake, you may have seen a Facebook ad promoting algaecides and herbicides for shoreline use. Wha...
05/26/2026

If you live on Flathead Lake, you may have seen a Facebook ad promoting algaecides and herbicides for shoreline use. What the ad does not tell you: these are pond products, applying them to the lake is almost certainly illegal, and the damage can last decades. Share this with your neighbors.

Address

110 Main Street Suite B1
Polson, MT
59860

Telephone

+14068831346

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