Who:

MT Dept of Agriculture / Dave Burch

What:

Meeting on Eurasian watermilfoil quarantine

Where:

Dept of Agriculture building, Helena

When:

Aug 3, 2011, 6:00 p.m.

Why:

Public informational meeting on quarantine

Accomplished:

• 8 site on Missouri where EWM found (3 upper, 5 Ft Peck)

• Light temporary quarantine put in place on Jun 29 for 1 year. Mostly under direction of County Weed Coordinator (Broadwater), Headwaters Task Force, County Commissioner (Broadwater), Dept of Ag, Ft. Peck Task Force (ACOE)

• Light quarantine allows travel (regular quarantine does not); quarantines only last 1 year

• Allows set-up of mandatory inspection stations, funding authorized by legislature

• Next step would be to designate "Management Areas"

• Live bait is not allowed in Management Areas, issue holding up designation, asking MFWP for exception

• Discussed what other states (ID, NV) are doing

• Education is also focus of inspection stations

• 3,341 inspections to date; inspections stations are also wash stations

• Sampling kits are available from Dept of Ag, some CDs and Weed Districts already have the kits

• Our threat mostly from Great Lakes area

Follow Up:

• Stay engaged with the 2 Task Forces

• Put up an AIS (Aquatic Invasive Species) sign at a boat ramp on the Rivers Edge Trail in Great Falls