Strategy 1: Inventory and monitor priority waters of the Flathead Basin for AIS.
Facilitate the collection and dispersal of information, research and data on AIS in the
Flathead Basin.

There is a need to adopt or develop a universal AIS inventory protocol and implement it
throughout the Flathead Basin. Prior to surveying, existing survey data will be gathered
and compiled into an interactive GIS format. Using a GIS personal geo‐database format,
spatial data and its attributes can easily be displayed, cataloged, distributed, and
analyzed by multiple users. Spatial analysis of the data will be invaluable in
prioritization of new survey sites, quantifying areas of AIS risk, determining vectors of
spread, estimating AIS habitat suitability, and estimating return survey intervals of
existing survey sites.

Strategy 1A: Survey Flathead Basin waters for AIS.

Tasks

  • Develop Flathead Basin survey methodology and standards.
  • Fund new watershed/lake water quality /AIS volunteer monitoring programs
    or expand existing programs.
  • Fund ongoing AIS monitoring program: Whitefish to Eureka Volunteer Lake Water
    Quality/AIS Program and Flathead Basin Commission Volunteer Monitoring Program
    w/AIS component.
  • Produce Flathead Basin AIS Distribution Data Summary
    (areas surveyed and known infestations).
  • Develop Flathead Basin‐wide AIS Distribution Map.
  • Prioritize List of Waters to survey.
  • All high priority Flathead Basin waters surveyed.

Report and coordinate AIS information: There is the need to develop a protocol for AIS
related‐ reporting, coordinating, and updating of a selected database. At the same time,
there is no need to duplicate existing efforts. The Flathead Basin AIS group should
review current AIS databases to determine if there can be integration into existing
projects. We should facilitate the development of AIS distribution databases in the
Flathead Basin that currently do not have them, and help facilitate universalizing the
databases so data can be easily shared within the Flathead Basin and nationally. If
current databases are found to be insufficient and the ability or willingness to improve
them is lacking, then there will be consideration of creating a Flathead Basin database.

Strategy 1B: Report and coordinate AIS.

Tasks

  • Review Flathead Basin AIS databases and determine the need for a universal
    database.
  • Make existing databases universal or identify single database to populate.
  • Develop protocol for reporting, coordinating and sharing data
    within Flathead Basin and nationally.