Project Overview

Yellowstone Park Foundation will utilize visitor education, inspection protocols, and washing to prevent harmful aquatic nuisance species from entering Yellowstone’s rivers and streams.  Aquatic nuisance species (ANS) are rapidly spreading in Western streams and lakes, including waterways in Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA). These foreign organisms lack predators in their new habitat and compete with and displace native invertebrates. Their presence may go sight unseen until it is too late, and their damage can be costly and irreversible. In a 2007 survey, more than 2,500 boaters visiting Yellowstone reported that the last waterway they used was in a state that could be contaminated with ANS such as zebra mussels, didymo, New Zealand mud snails, or whirling disease. The blue-ribbon waterways of Yellowstone and the surrounding GYA are an international destination that provides great fishing to thousands of visiting anglers a year. These waters are essential habitats for native trout, eagles, ospreys, pelican, otters, and grizzly bears. Prevention and visitor education will be used to stop ANS from entering and harming Yellowstone’s premier aquatic resources and fishing experience. Private funding will provide for educational materials, staff to educate visitors and conduct inspections, and needed cleaning equipment and supplies for inspections. Successful outcomes will include an educated boating and angling public and the prevention of ANS introductions into Yellowstone’s rivers and streams. This project is coordinated by the Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee, which is comprised of the following federal partners: Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, National Elk Refuge, Red Rock Lakes Refuge, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Custer National Forest, Gallatin National Forest, Shoshone National Forest, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.