McCone Conservation District Protects Montana’s Water from Invasive Species 07/16/2024
Across the country, our nation’s farmers and ranchers are on the frontlines, protecting the food, fuel, and fiber we need from invasive species. In Montana, one conservation district is taking action in the water.
Meet the McCone Conservation District (CD), based in the town of Circle, Montana. The McCone CD is helping to keep aquatic invasive species out of Montana’s pristine lakes and rivers. They know that if these invaders gain a foothold, the consequences for the state’s recreation and drinking water would be catastrophic.
To sound the alarm, the McCone CD went on a mission to educate Montana’s lawmakers about the looming threat from neighboring states. Armed with data and determination, they made their case to state legislators in Helena. As awareness grew, the McCone CD also formed a powerful alliance with the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department (FWP), securing crucial funding and expertise to take action.
Their tactic? Invasive species check stations. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with neighboring conservation districts, they set up eight inspection points along key travel routes to popular recreational lakes and rivers, ready to intercept would-be invaders before they could reach Montana’s vulnerable waters. By law, boaters must stop at these inspection points. Every motorized and non-motorized watercraft must pull over and undergo a swift but thorough inspection and hot water decontamination to eradicate any hidden threats.
McCone CD manager Diane Black knows that balancing protection with public access is key. “Inspections only take 6 minutes,” she says, “We’re dedicated to keeping our waters pristine for future generations, without putting an undue burden on the boating community that loves them just as much as we do.”
The results? In 2023, they inspected 130,000 boats and caught 53 that were harboring invasive species, decontaminating and even turning them back before they could do harm. And the 2024 season is off to an equally impressive start, with 22 contaminated vessels intercepted among the first 16,000 inspected.
How did they achieve this? First, they made sure lawmakers understood the stakes, hosting field days that put the issue front and center for state decision makers. Then, they rallied the troops, forging partnerships with other conservation groups to marshal the resources needed to establish the check stations.
The fight against invasive species is far from won, but the McCone CD is proof that with determination, education, and collaboration, a small district can make a big impact. Their model is one that conservation districts nationwide can follow to protect their own waters from these aquatic threats.
To find out more about the McCone Conservation District or their inspection stations visit their Facebook page.
Blog written by Wesley Gibson, NACD South Central Region Representative