Swan Lakers is devoted to preserving and improving the water quality and natural, cultural, and historical resources of Swan Lake, Montana, including its headwaters, its drainages, and appurtenant lands.

Established as a non-profit 501(c) (3) in 2005, Swan Lakers is a group of friends and neighbors who value the unique character and quality of our community, much of which is based on the pristine nature of the Swan Basin watershed.  Our efforts to preserve and protect this valuable resource include Water Quality Studies, Aquatic Invasive Species Inspections, the Adopt-a-Highway MDOT program, and Swan River Cleanups. Our organization serves members and the greater community by providing the data, discussion, and educational material necessary to make informed decisions regarding issues that affect the watershed’s present and future well-being.  Through collaborative efforts with other community organizations and government entities, we work to build a consensus that allows all those who appreciate our special home, residents and visitors alike, the opportunity to maintain the quality of life we all enjoy.  Participation from all who share the Swan Lakers vision is encouraged.  Photos for Banner by Kay Bjork

We are proud to announce that our President, Jeff Kemp, won a Best of the West Award for inspecting Aquatic Invasive Species! Thank you, Jeff, for volunteering to be our President and our fearless leader for another year.

 Swan Lakers Board President:  Jeff Kemp is our AIS hero and Best in the West nominee. Jeff has served on the Swan Lakers board for nearly 15 years and was recently re-elected board president of the Swan Lakers for which he has served for seven of the last ten years. In addition to heading our organization, Jeff has been the Swan watershed leader in the battle against AIS, in particular the dreaded zebra and quagga mussels. Now in its eleventh season, Jeff established and leads the Swan Lakers volunteer AIS boat inspection program at Swan Lake’s one public boat ramp, which is on USFS property. Jeff has devoted countless hours every year towards all things AIS. See more information below about Aquatic Invasive Species.

Please take a look at the recent article in the Flathead Beacon…

One Man’s Mission to Preserve Swan Lake – and Beyond

SCHOLARSHIP: Swan Lakers is once again offering a $2,000 scholarship to graduating seniors in 2026 from Bigfork High School and Seeley-Swan High School. Applications will be accepted from any graduating high school senior seeking financial assistance to pursue post high school education. Priority will be given to candidates intending to pursue studies in the interdisciplinary field of environmental science, which is consistent with our mission. However, the award is not restricted to this field. We encourage any graduating senior to apply. Applications are available at both high schools or contact info@swanlakers.org and request via email. Due date is April 30, 2026. Please send to info@swanlakers.org or mail to Swan Lakers PO Box 399 Bigfork, MT 59911

Fall Highway Cleanup – Thank you to the 15 volunteers for coming out on a cool damp morning to pick up trash this past Saturday!  It was a rainy few days but luckily it quit just in time to get the job accomplished. We picked up 19 bags of various types of garbage., AND we always appreciate your participation…see you the next time around!

River Cleanup on August 23rd was a beautiful day! Thank you to everyone who came out to help…we appreciate you, let’s continue to keep Swan River lovely!

Our 20th Annual Meeting and Appreciation Party was a great success; we had about 100 people attend! Thank you to everyone who enjoyed a wonderful evening, donated prizes, and helped in every which way. A special thank you to the Holliday family for offering Sky Lodge for our venue, it’s a fabulous spot for a party. Also, a huge thank you to Stephanie and her crew from Birch Provisions for all of the delicious food and service. Not sure how we’re going to top it next year, but we’ll try!

Aquatic Invasive Species – (AIS) Swan Lakers has carried out boat inspections twice-weekly in July and August at the USFS Boat Launch in the town of Swan Lake for 12 years. It is a very important part of our mission to keep Swan Lake pristine, it is fun, easy and worthwhile! We are planning on 3 days a week in 2025, June through August.

PLEASE CONSIDER BEING AN AIS INSPECTOR in 2026

New article about AIS discovered in the Snake River in Idaho…

https://phys.org/news/2025-08-idaho-poisoned-snake-river-invasive.html

A huge thank you to everyone who have participated in inspections in the past!  We inspected 976 watercrafts in 2024.  In 2023, we inspected 719. Last year’s increase to 976, is consistent with our inspecting on more days. A close look at the data shows the daily activity was about the same in July and August, between 2023 and 2024. 

We know it can be boring at times, very busy other times, hot at times, cold and damp at times, with the occasionally grumpy boat owner thrown in.  But what we are doing is important.  Swan Lake is one of the headwaters of the Columbia River system.  If invasive mussels were introduced to Swan Lake, they could eventually make their way downstream to the mouth of the Columbia, spreading destruction as they go. Our efforts are both for detection and education.  There’s value in just talking up the subject with the boaters.  Who knows…. our short chat may just make someone alert to a mussle fouled boat that they see somewhere else.  

With regard to AIS, its spread is a growing problem across the United States and Canada. AIS that threatens Montana includes Quagga and Zebra mussels, Curly Leaf Pondweed, and Eurasian Milfoil.  Unfortunately, Quagga and Zebra mussels have been found in Montana this past year. Their presence in our state is proof of how easily they can be moved from place to place on trailered watercraft.  The introduction of these mussels would be a catastrophe for Montana’s waterways in terms of appearance and the effect on fishing. They reproduce rapidly in the millions of fouling shorelines, clinging to structures like pilings, and clogging irrigation systems. They are filter feeders that interrupt the food chain that supports our fish populations. They can literally destroy a fishery. Be aware and concerned.

Congratulations to Kendhal Sherman on graduating from Bigfork High School and receiving our $2,000 Scholarship Award! Well-deserved and wishing you all the best at MSU to pursue your education in ecology, preserving nature and Swan Lake.

Over the past few years, we have mentioned the project to restore the wildlife refuge at the south end of Swan Lake.   The completion of this project in late 2022 is a hugely positive achievement for preserving water quality in Swan Lake. Attached is a link to a well written story about the project.  It was prepared by Swan Lakers’ member Kay Bjork and appeared in the Flathead Beacon in May of this year.  The story describes the multi-year effort required to bring this project to its conclusion. 

Our sincere thank you to everyone who was involved in the project, but especially to our partner, Swan Valley Connections who carried out the original mapping of the area, obtained the needed funding, and procured the contractors needed to ‘move the dirt’. It’s an excellent read.  Simply click on the link below. 

 Rewilding the Swan Valley – Flathead Beacon