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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Montana online course will let boaters skip decontamination stations

The crew at the Idaho boat inspection station on Interstate 90 east of Fourth of July Pass inspects a boat from Alberta for invasive species such as zebra mussels as it's owners bring it into the state. (Rich Landers / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press

BILLINGS – Training courses and certification that will allow boaters to bypass decontamination stations at two Montana reservoirs is now available online.

The Billings Gazette reported the state has been stepping up its efforts to keep Montana waters safe following last fall’s discovery of invasive mussel larvae at Tiber Reservoir and a suspect sample from Canyon Ferry Reservoir.

Watercraft owners now have the opportunity to get certified as local boaters at the reservoirs so they don’t have to go through the decontamination stations.

The online training course is available at musselresponse.mt.gov. It will provide participants will information about the threat of invasive mussels and how to appropriately clean, drain and dry watercraft to keep Montana’s waters safe.