![]() The laws do not apply to recreational use of lakes.” The limit on water-related pleasure activities is the water resource itself. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) issued a statement on Friday intending to answer recently received questions seeking clarification on the state’s iconic stream access law.Ī new brochure, released on September 8, covers the nuances of the law and states: “All surface waters capable of recreational use may be so used by the public up to the ordinary high-water mark without regard to the ownership of the land underlying the waters. Montana FWP Issues Clarification on Stream Access Law They can disrupt the food chain by outcompeting native species for resources. Quagga mussels are notorious for their ability to multiply quickly, forming dense colonies that can damage boats, pipes, and native aquatic ecosystems. The Snake River, a critical water source for agriculture, recreation, and wildlife including endangered wild steelhead, is now at the center of a race against time. We need everyone to support these efforts.” Thankfully, we caught the mussels early on and have already started a robust response to get these mussels OUT of our waters. If we are not successful, an unchecked spread – which we are doing all we can to stop – has the potential to cost Idaho hundreds of millions of actual and indirect costs. “This is a very high priority for Idaho and for me, given the gravity of the risk. “These invasive pests will clog pipes that deliver water for drinking, energy, agriculture, and recreation,” Governor Little said. The discovery of these invasive mussels in the Snake River has raised alarms due to the potential threat they pose to Idaho's fragile and struggling anadromous fishery. Quagga mussels, native to Eastern Europe, have been a menace in many parts of the United States, particularly the Great Lakes region, where they have wreaked havoc on aquatic ecosystems and water infrastructure. ![]() The Idaho Fish & Game Commission also voted Friday morning to close this portion of the Snake to all fishing, hunting, and trapping as a "companion reinforcement action supporting the overall closure put in place by the Idaho Department of Agriculture." In response, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) closed the river and tributaries from Shoshone Falls to the Highway 46 bridge (about 23 miles) to all access, starting September 21, while it determines the extent of the invasion. The invasive mussels were found by a group of researchers conducting routine water quality tests in the river, marking the first confirmed presence of these damaging mollusks in Idaho's waterways. The larvae of the highly invasive aquatic species quagga mussels have been discovered in the Centennial Water Park section of the Snake River in Twin Falls, sending ripples of concern through the local communities, environmentalists, and policymakers.
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