Sylvan Lake in central Alberta could have been the first water body in the province to harbour invasive zebra and quagga mussels.
However, a boat carrying the damaging mollusk species was intercepted on the Victoria Day long weekend before it got into the water.
An Alberta Environment news release issued today said the incident “is a reminder to Albertans to clean, drain and dry their boats to prevent these tenacious mussels from damaging Alberta’s valuable aquatic ecosystems.”
The release said the owner of the boat stopped at Sylvan Lake was co-operative with the inspection. The boat was to be decontaminated at no cost to the owner.
Read Also
Federal budget shows remaining disconnect between agriculture, policymakers, panelists say
Canada’s agriculture sector is still disconnected from policymakers in some ways, say panelists at a CAPI webinar
Alberta instituted mandatory inspections of boats and watercraft earlier this year in efforts to prevent zebra and quagga mussels from gaining a foothold in Alberta.
The mussels have been found in Manitoba and the Great Lakes within Canada and have wreaked havoc in water systems along the U.S. eastern seaboard and other states where they clog pipes and destroy natural ecosystems.
The mussels are small and easily overlooked and can live out of water for about 30 days. They multiply quickly and are almost impossible to eradicate once they have infested a water body.
More information is available at 855-336-2628.
Contact barb.glen@producer.com
