Evidence of zebra mussel infestation discovered at Clear Lake
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/07/2024 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
There’s evidence of a zebra mussel infestation at Clear Lake’s main boat cove, Parks Canada announced Friday.
Testing teams found one live mussel and several empty shells in the high-risk boat launch area of the lake, suggesting there’s “probably a localized infestation in Boat Cove,” Winnipeg South MP and Canada’s Special Advisor on Water, Terry Duguid, said in an interview.
Parks Canada previously announced it would take steps to contain a possible zebra mussel infestation by installing curtains around the Boat Cove area.
Duguid said the curtains, due to arrive Monday, will act “like an underwater fence” in hopes of preventing further spread.
Parks Canada has tested for evidence of mussels throughout the lake. So far only Boat Cove has shown positive results. Park staff are exploring the option of potash treatment to eradicate the mussels.
Duguid said the watercraft ban imposed in May, though “not a popular decision” has likely helped minimize the impacts of an infestation.
“If we had not taken some of these measures there would have been a wider infestation that we cannot contain,” he said.
“We have caught this infestation early and there are options now to treat this portion of the lake to hopefully stop this infestation from spreading.”
Snorkellers spotted zebra mussels in the lake on Wednesday, according to a statement released by the park’s public relations officer Mirelle Kroeker on Friday.
They “found one partial shell and one living, adult sized zebra mussel attached to a rock,” the release said.
“Water samples collected from Boat Cove from June 19-27, 2024, have also tested positive for environmental DNA from zebra mussels. This evidence shows zebra mussels are building a presence in Clear Lake.”
A containment curtain aimed at limiting the spread of mussels in the lake is expected to arrive and be installed next week.
Park personnel also told the Sun on Friday that two people aged 45 and 37 have been charged under the National Parks Act for using stand-up paddleboards on Clear Lake.
Virtually all watercraft have been banned from Clear Lake this year after the discovery of zebra mussels last year.
These charges could lead to fines of up to $25,000.
» julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca, with files from the Brandon Sun.
History
Updated on Friday, July 19, 2024 11:48 AM CDT: Added statement from Parks Canada.