Field Season Kickoff and Recreating Safely

Paige here with the Montana Pesticide Stewardship Partnership Program (MT PSPP). On May 4^th, we kicked off the season with our first sample of the year taken on the Little Bitterroot River. In just the month of May, our team collected water samples in 10 out of 12 counties in the Columbia River Basin: Flathead, Lincoln, Sanders, Missoula, Deer Lodge, Sanders, Lake, Granite, Powell, and Silver Bow.

Summer is just around the corner! With the weather warming up, our field crew is out on the water, and so are you. I’m here with a few tips to keep yourself safe and informed when recreating this year in Montana’s waters.

Swim safe with the Flathead Lakers’ Swim Guide! From July to September, the Flathead Lakers provide weekly updates on water quality (including E. coli) for 16 swimming locations around Flathead Lake. Check before you swim to reduce the risks of waterborne illnesses.

In April, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks updated theirMontana Sport Fish Consumption Guidelines! This resource provides recommendations on the amount and type of sport fish to eat, based on fish tissues collected from various Montana waters. Tissues were analyzed for contaminants such as Mercury, Cadmium, Arsenic, Selenium, PCBs, Dioxins, and PFAS/PFOS. Learn more about preparing your catch to minimize health risks and what precautions should be taken by high-risk individuals, so you can make informed decisions about your consumption this season.

Remember to recreate responsibly, leave no trace, and… get involved with local conservation? That’s right! Come volunteer with us by helping collect water samples. Please fill out our New Volunteer Interest Form, and we will be in touch about sampling trips in your area.