The mussels are coming! The mussels are coming!

Photo courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks

According to the Missoulian Newspaper, the Associated Press, and The Daily Interlake, "Preliminary testing has indicated that an aquatic invasive species may have moved into the Missouri River."

The Daily Interlake reports: "Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman Greg Lemon said Monday evening that a water sample taken from the York Islands fishing access south of Townshend was found to be “suspect” during initial testing by state scientists. He said additional testing is needed to confirm whether the sample contained larvae from zebra or quagga mussels, two species of invasive mussel known to multiply aggressively and generate costly damage to aquatic ecosystems and infrastructure."

The Daily Interlake also wrote: "The finding comes about two weeks after mussel larvae, known as “veligers,” were confirmed for the first time in Montana waters at Tiber Reservoir. Another sample taken from upstream in Canyon Ferry was inconclusive, but a visual microscopy test indicated the veligers were present in that water body as well."

In the words of Vice President Biden, "This is a big fucking deal!"  And it's a big deal, not only for the waters where the larvae may have been found, but for all the connected waters (ie. the Jefferson, Madison, Gallatin, Big Hole, Beaverhead and the Lower Missouri.  Not only that, but it will make spreading the larvae around the state of Montana via recreationists, that much easier.