Strategy 2: Develop understanding of and support for AIS prevention within agencies
and organizations.

There is also a need to foster understanding and support within agencies and
organizations. This can be done by institutionalizing behaviors and procedures that
reduce the potential for AIS spread, regardless of survey knowledge, defining and
incorporating Best Management Practices into management actions, and identifying
opportunities to incorporate AIS management into agency/organization decision‐making
and plans.

Strategy 2A: Institutionalize behaviors and procedures that reduce potential for
spread even among uninformed demographics.

Tasks

  • Representatives of each partner organization and agency within the Flathead Basin
    should begin talking to their coworkers, supervisors, etc., emphasizing the
    importance of AIS prevention, and providing information species identification.
  • Compile research about the impacts of AIS on social, economic, and ecological
    systems. Use this information to develop a comprehensive report that can be
    distributed to natural resource program administrators. This information will be
    used to more comprehensively inform policy and program decisions that
    potentially influence how AIS prevention, containment, and eradication will occur
    in the Flathead Basin.
  • Plan and conduct a Spring workshop on understanding AIS prevention and
    identification. Encourage the participation of field biologists, hatchery personnel,
    river rangers, fishing guides, wildlife and fisheries managers and researchers,
    wardens, fire crews, contractors, etc. Consider including elected officials and other
    agency staff (planning and health departments) in specific outreach efforts.

Strategy 2B: Define and incorporate Best Management Practices
into management actions.

Tasks

  • Create suggested protocols for agencies/organizations to adopt
    (Inspect, Clean, Drain and Dry).
  • Search literature to determine what management practices
    have been effective in other areas.
  • Create plans that each agency/organization can incorporate into their work plans.

Strategy 2C: Identify opportunities to incorporate AIS management into
agency/organization/government decision‐making and plans.

Tasks

  • Emphasize the importance of AIS to upper management and
    encourage all employees to stress the importance of AIS prevention.
  • Meet with other water users, discuss the importance of AIS prevention,
    and invite them to AIS workshops.