To protect the aquatic environment within the Flathead Indian Reservation from the threat of aquatic invasive species in order to protect water resources for continued use by generations of today and tomorrow.
AIS inspection is for anyone with a boat or watercraft that will be launching in reservation waters.
AIS Program Manager: Katie Finley-Squeque
Phone: (406) 675-2700 ext 7261
Hours: Mon-Thu 7:00am – 5:30pm, stations vary
Forms & Downloads
Additional Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get my boat inspected?
Inspection Stations are open March to October in Ravalli, MT and April to September in Thompson Falls, MT.
I was already checked at another AIS Check station, why do I have to stop again?
It is important to stop at every check station you drive by, as that inspection station staff do not know that you have already been inspected. Additionally, there have been instances where one station has missed mussels or other AIS and those have been detected at a different station. We know it is a little bit of a time commitment from you when choosing to bring you boat into our state and on our waters, but this helps us to combat a serious threat in the form aquatic invasive hitchhikers.
I just have a kayak or paddle board, do I need to stop?
YES! Mussels have been found in kayaks and can hide in the smallest place. The Larval stage is quite small and can persist in a small amount of water in any time of watercraft. It is all important to be inspected.
What is the dog for?
That dog is a sniffer dog that can detect mussels in boats. They have protective booties on so they don’t scratch your paint, and keep their feet cool. They can detect mussels in areas we might not be able see, such as your motor. The dog handler has to travel around the state to different stations so she isn’t always on site. We appreciate when they are here!
What is a decontamination and how long will it take?
A decontamination is where we take hot water, no chemicals, to your boat. 120 °F for the sensitive parts of your boat and 140 ° F for the rest. The time will depend on how complex your boat is and how many ballast tanks you have. If you know how to properly operate your boat and work with the inspectors, it can be as short as 30 minutes.
What sort of AIS are you looking for?
The main concern we have for our bodies of water is the zebra and quagga mussels. They will cause the most damage to our eco-systems once introduced and nearly impossible to remove. We are also looking for invasive plants such as Eurasian watermilfoil, Curly-leaf pond weed, and other animals that may live in the mud such as the New Zealand Mud snail.