Montana Lake Drained Due to Invasive Clams

Invasive species of clams are spreading all over Lake Elmo which led officials at the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks to grant the plan to drain the lake, Billings Gazette reported.

The report said that the plan would commence in September of this year to eradicate the invasive species of clams that are not native to the area. These clams are known as the Asian clams that arrived at the lake from an unknown source and have since multiplied in huge numbers.

Asian clams are quick to reproduce which could cause clogging of the lakes and water systems. Authorities see that the only way is to fully eradicate the population of Asian clams in the area is to drain the lake, which is approximately 60 acres.

Draining Lake Elmo

According to AP News, the Asian clams were discovered in Lake Elmo in 2019. Fortunately, a subsequent search of wildlife officials on irrigation storage reservoirs, ditches, rivers upstream and downstream, and anywhere else in Montana found no other clams. The officials said they are unsure how these invasive clams were able to get in the lake.

Previously, they tried draining the lake up to three feet to eliminate the clams near the shore and shallow water since that is where they were mostly found. But then no one would exactly know the extent of the problem caused by these invasive clams unless they drain the lake.

Even if a small number of Asian clams would remain in the river after draining it partially, experts said that it would not be long until they reproduce and increase their numbers again, BGR reported.

On the other hand, the plan to completely drain Lake Elmo to kill the Asian clams would also mean killing many native species in the lake in the process. Montana is taking this drastic measure to secure Lake Elmo's long-term health, so they included it in their plan to restock the lake shortly after it is refilled in the spring of 2022.

They hope that by that time, the lake will get stocks of fish that will thrive in the lake's environment in the absence of the invasive clams.

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Why Are Asian Clams Bad?

Asian clams pose a two-fold problem to the lake. One, it can affect the water quality, which filters out the necessary nutrients needed by the native species of fish in the area. Two, it appears in large numbers that they can block the drainage and water systems.

Moreover, authorities of Lake George have also identified three reasons why these invasive clams are bad for the lake. They said that Asian clams promote the growth of algae, which could dominate the once clear and beautiful bays.

Secondly, Asian clams also form dense mats of sharp shells that are otherwise friendly to the feet of the swimmers. Lastly, the invasion of Asian clams creates a localized calcium-rich environment that invites other invasive species, such as zebra mussels that clog up water intake pipes, boats, and make lake surface dangerous and uninviting.