Flathead Lakers

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

Much of what we know about the health of Flathead Lake comes from the research happening at the Flathead Lake Biological...
10/21/2026

Much of what we know about the health of Flathead Lake comes from the research happening at the Flathead Lake Biological Station.

FLBS scientists have been monitoring Flathead Lake for invasive mussels since 2016 -- collecting samples three times a year from dozens of sites for eDNA and veliger analysis, with zero positive detections to date. They also partner with Flathead Lakers on Science on Tap, bringing their research to community conversations all year long.

Strong science is the foundation of strong lake protection. We're grateful for this partnership.

Learn more at flbs.umt.edu

The inspection stations are closed, but the AIS risk window isn't quite over.Every fall, boats go into storage with damp...
10/19/2026

The inspection stations are closed, but the AIS risk window isn't quite over.

Every fall, boats go into storage with damp compartments, wet bilges, and livewells that weren't fully drained. Invasive mussels and aquatic plants can survive in those conditions through winter -- and arrive at a new lake when that boat launches in spring.

Before your boat goes into storage:
1. Drain every compartment completely
2. Leave hatches and livewells open to dry
3. Remove any visible plant material from hull, trailer, and propeller
4. Rinse with hot water if you have access to a decontamination station

What you do now protects next season.

Most people are familiar with zebra and quagga mussels, but golden mussels are now part of the same watch list for Flath...
10/19/2026

Most people are familiar with zebra and quagga mussels, but golden mussels are now part of the same watch list for Flathead Lake. Like their relatives, golden mussels are filter feeders that can strip phytoplankton from the water, disrupting the base of the food web and triggering the same chain reaction: fish declines, more frequent algal blooms, and degraded water quality.

The prevention steps don't change based on which species you're worried about. Clean, drain, and dry every time, no exceptions.

More on the mussel threat: https://www.flatheadlakers.org/advocacy/aquatic-invasive-species

Spiny water fleas are tiny, but their long spiny tails clog fishing rods and equipment badly enough to stop fish from be...
10/19/2026

Spiny water fleas are tiny, but their long spiny tails clog fishing rods and equipment badly enough to stop fish from being landed. They also prey on native zooplankton, an important food source for native fish, and their own spines make them a poor food source in return.

What makes them especially hard to stop is that both adults and eggs can survive difficult conditions in minimal water, and the eggs can withstand freezing and drying. They spread through the movement of water-related equipment, so gear that looks dry can still be carrying them.

More on this species: https://www.flatheadlakers.org/other-aquatic-invaders

What makes the Flathead Basin special isn't just the lake. It's the landscapes that surround and feed it.The Living in F...
10/14/2026

What makes the Flathead Basin special isn't just the lake. It's the landscapes that surround and feed it.

The Living in Flathead guide's Protecting Special Landscapes section covers the tools available to landowners who want to protect their property for the long term: conservation easements, wildlife corridor stewardship, working lands protection, and partnership with organizations like the Flathead River to Lake Initiative.

If you own land in the basin and have thought about what happens to it next, this is a good place to start.

Explore: www.livinginflathead.org/living-on-the-land

One of the easiest ways invasive species and pathogens move between water bodies is bait. Never release live bait into a...
10/14/2026

One of the easiest ways invasive species and pathogens move between water bodies is bait.

Never release live bait into a lake or stream, and never transport aquatic animals from one water body to another, even if it seems harmless.

Unwanted bait and fish carcasses both belong in the landfill trash, not back in the water. It's a small habit change with a real impact.

Full list of dos and don'ts: https://www.flatheadlakers.org/what-you-can-do

Climate Conversations & Potluck is tomorrow, Wednesday October 14As the days get shorter and fall settles in, it's a goo...
10/13/2026

Climate Conversations & Potluck is tomorrow, Wednesday October 14

As the days get shorter and fall settles in, it's a good time to sit down with neighbors and talk honestly about what's changing in the Flathead Valley and what community action looks like.

Potluck starts at 5:30 PM. Bring a dish or finger foods to share. Everyone welcome.

Flathead Lakers Patio - 110 Main St, Suite B, Polson
5:30-7:30 PM | Free and open to all

If you have a septic system, you're running a small wastewater treatment plant on your property -- and how well it works...
10/12/2026

If you have a septic system, you're running a small wastewater treatment plant on your property -- and how well it works matters for your family and for Flathead Lake.

Here's the basics:

Wastewater from your home flows into a septic tank, where solids settle and begin to break down. The liquid portion moves to a drain field, where it filters through soil before reaching groundwater.

When the system is healthy, that filtration process removes most pathogens and nutrients before they reach groundwater. When it fails -- through neglect, overloading, or age -- those nutrients and pathogens can reach streams and eventually Flathead Lake.

Regular pump-outs (every 3-5 years for most households) and inspections are the most important things you can do to keep the system working.

Questions? Reach out to Maggie at [email protected]

On September 30, inspectors at the Anaconda watercraft inspection station stopped a ski boat headed for Bigfork. It had ...
10/11/2026

On September 30, inspectors at the Anaconda watercraft inspection station stopped a ski boat headed for Bigfork. It had been bought from a private seller on Gull Lake, Minnesota, and had been out of the water for only three days. Mussels were attached to plant material on the boat.

Inspectors decontaminated it and locked it to its trailer, and FWP will inspect it again before it touches Montana water. That boat was one of 31 mussel-fouled watercraft intercepted in Montana this season, out of more than 114,000 inspections. Another 600+ boats were carrying aquatic weeds.

Montana's waters are still clear. More than 2,500 early detection samples and 250+ eDNA samples this season found no invasive mussels.

Keeping it that way depends on every boater. Clean, Drain, Dry every time, and stop at every inspection station. Fall's low water is a good time to look for invasive species along the shoreline. If you find something suspicious, photograph it and report it to FWP at 406-444-2440.

💧 Kalispell neighbors are stepping up for our rivers and lake!Watch the story on KPAX TV to see how neighbors are adopti...
10/11/2026

💧 Kalispell neighbors are stepping up for our rivers and lake!

Watch the story on KPAX TV to see how neighbors are adopting storm drains on their own blocks to protect our rivers and lakes.

Watch: https://www.kpax.com/news/city-of-kalispell-urges-residents-to-adopt-a-drain-as-only-45-of-1-000-drains-have-been-claimed

👉 Adopt a drain near you: https://adopt-a-catch-basin-5-cityofkalispell.hub.arcgis.com/
Thanks to KPAX and the City of Kalispell for helping spread the word. 💙

Address

110 Main Street Suite B1
Polson, MT
59860

Telephone

+14068831346

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