Flathead Basin Protection Fund asks for donations through Flathead Gives

This year, the Flathead Basin Protection Fund is participating in the Flathead Gives campaign to help pay to fight aquatic invasive species in Northwest Montana.

Concerned citizens can assist the with these funding needs by contributing to the Flathead Give Local campaign today until 6 p.m. Go to www.Flatheadgives.org, find the FBPF site, and make your contribution today.

The Basin Protection Fund supports the work of the Flathead Basin Commission, the agency charged with AIS prevention efforts on a basin-wide scale.

During the 2017 legislation session, the Basin Commission was granted authority to operate a unique pilot program for the Flathead Basin. However, this legislative mandate was unfunded, so the commission is now trying to secure funds to (1) train additional K-9 detection teams; (2) establish additional inspection stations to better protect Flathead Lake; and (3) expand existing AIS monitoring efforts.

Caryn Miske, executive director of the Flathead Basin Commission said, “Given that the Missouri system is now fouled with invasive mussels, we need to step up and do all we can to prevent their introduction into the Columbia River Basin.” The Flathead serves as the headwaters for the entire Columbia River watershed which spans from Montana to the Washington coast.

For the last five years, the Flathead Basin Commission has operated early season watercraft inspection stations to supplement the regular season inspections provided by Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The commission has also pioneered a variety of innovative management tools to enhance aquatic-invasive-species prevention efforts, including the deployment of K-9 AIS detection teams; the funding of eDNA research, in partnership with the Flathead Biological Station, to improve early detection capabilities; and the establishment of a permanent watercraft inspection station at Browning, Montana, in partnership with the Blackfeet Nation.