Strategy 1: Inform the public, policy makers, natural resource workers, private
industry, and other stakeholders about the risks and impacts of AIS in order to develop
a community that understands their role in AIS prevention.

The primary strategy is to creat public awareness about AIS, how their actions can
prevent the spread and introduction of AIS and how they can help reduce the impacts of
existing AIS (i.e., teach people to inspect, clean, drain and dry). The following tasks will
help us attain that goal:

Strategy 1A ‐ Develop and support educational workshops.

Tasks

  • Contact local community partners and start to set up an annual calendar of
    education and outreach workshops and events.
  • Create a database of known partners to assist with this effort.
  • Brainstorm ideas for future events.
  • Search for local business sponsors for a variety of education and outreach.
  • Integrate AIS education into existing community programs
    (ex: Wildlife Art Museum series, local library events).
  • Investigate setting up an annual community‐based AIS event in the Flathead Basin.
  • Hold basinwide workshops – utilize scenic float tools to educate the public.
  • Adjust focus of workshops as the public (residents and tourists) becomes better
    educated.

Strategy 1B: Promote one‐on‐one contact with water users.

Tasks

  • Set up a coordinated effort between partners to provide sufficient seasonal staffing
    throughout the Flathead Basin for check/wash stations.
  • Consider and prioritize other organizations and businesses to partner with for
    sufficient on‐the‐ground education.
  • Organize and coordinate seasonal AIS training.
  • Employ individual to review existing outreach resources and to develop new public
    contact materials as needed.
  • Search for grant opportunities and sources of long‐term funding for seasonal staff.
  • Set up partnership agreements with participating groups.
  • Interview/survey visitors to evaluate effectiveness of prevention program and
    adjust efforts to address responses to questionnaires/surveys.

Strategy 1C: Implement school outreach programs.

Tasks

  • Set up a partnership with local schools and educational groups (CORE, COCEEC,
    WET, WEN etc.) to establish outreach in schools.
  • Develop lesson plans/school education programs for teaching about AIS.
  • Set up workshop with Flathead Basin teachers to ensure success.
  • Integrate into state‐wide education system.

Strategy 1D: Integrate AIS outreach into the plans and actions of partner and other
relevant agencies and organizations.

Tasks

  • Meet with public information personnel to determine routes for outreach in
    organizations and agencies.
  • Create tools for outreach to co‐workers and members (e.g. PowerPoint
    presentations, electronic information documents).
  • Stock offices and front desk areas of all Flathead Basin AIS Plan partner
    organizations and agencies and others with basic informational materials on AIS.
  • Hold brown‐bag lunches on AIS and take co‐workers and other interested parties
    on float trips to explain AIS issues.
  • Provide power washers and/or other associated cleaning tools (brushes, scrapers)
    to be “checked out” by employees,partner organizations and agencies.

Strategy 1E: Coordinate seasonal staffing to maximize degree of plan
implementation with available resources.

Tasks

  • Set up a communication pathway to keep all partners informed and avoid
    duplication. Partners meet as needed to plan and coordinate for summer season.
  • Develop and implement a plan to help meet staffing requirements (Americorps,
    Montana Conservation Corps, etc.).

Strategy 1F: Develop effective education and outreach plans and campaigns.

Tasks

  • Develop product marketing plan. Analyze what has worked and failed in other
    jurisdictions. Consider market research to refine messaging over time.
  • Use contact survey to collect data necessary for the development of a social
    marketing plan. Develop plan to help maximize effectiveness of education efforts
    in reaching target audiences.
  • Establish relationships with visitor centers, chambers of commerce and other
    “marketing focal points,” such as websites.
  • Use the State AIS reporting system.

Strategy 1G: Encourage the development of AIS‐free certification programs to help
the public understand their role.

Tasks

  • Search and evaluate ongoing certification programs and consider using the existing
    MT AIS program or develop a Flathead Basin program.
  • Incorporate education and self certification program with boat inspections and
    wash stations to facilitate interstate boat travel.
  • Utilize MDOT weigh station personnel, police/highway patrol, border crossing
    personnel, etc. to assist with boat inspections.