Boat inspections top 6K at Riding Mountain
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Riding Mountain National Park staff conducted more than 6,000 watercraft inspections this season as motorboats returned to Clear Lake for the first time in two years.
A total of 618 motorized and trailered watercraft inspections were conducted during the season, along with 5,649 non-motorized watercraft inspections, RMNP staff said in a newsletter on Friday.
Staff also conducted 514 decontaminations of watercraft.
Parks Canada staff are shown inspecting and tagging boats in Wasagaming in 2023. The motorized boating season at Clear Lake is slated to come to an end after Thanksgiving Monday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun files)
As the end of the season approaches, staff at the park said the aquatic invasive species program was a success.
”We would like to sincerely thank everyone who supported aquatic invasive species prevention efforts,” the newsletter said. “The continued success of this program is possible because so many people care deeply about this special place.”
The motorized boating season at Clear Lake is slated to end after Thanksgiving Monday with the closure of the AIS inspection station at the lake. Motorized and trailered watercraft will be banned following the closure, while non-motorized watercraft can continue to use the lake if equipped with a valid permit and if meeting AIS program requirements.
Parks Canada introduced inspection protocols this season to combat the spread of zebra mussels from Clear Lake to other waterbodies, and to prevent the introduction of new invasive species to Clear Lake. Parks Canada also instituted a one-boat, one-lake policy for watercraft with a mandatory tagging program.
Park staff said that visitors this year showed persistence in protecting the health of the lake.
“This year’s boating season reflected the tremendous commitment of visitors, residents, cottagers and partners to helping keep the waters of Riding Mountain National Park healthy and free from aquatic invasive species,” the newsletter said.
The busiest day of the season was June 6, when a total of 223 inspections took place.
RMNP did not say on Friday whether its plan to introduce launch fees at Clear Lake will take effect in the 2027 season.
Earlier this year, when it announced that motorboats could return to the lake, Parks Canada said that launch fees may be introduced to recover the cost of the tagging program.
Park staff have asked boat owners to keep AIS tags attached to their watercraft throughout the winter, as this will help staff get started next year.
“Keeping AIS tags intact helps staff verify previous inspections and supports a smoother launch process when the boating season resumes in the spring.”
RMNP has also asked boat owners to store watercraft outdoors or in an unheated building to combat AIS survival ahead of next spring, as freezing temperatures help ensure any remaining aquatic invasive species are no longer viable by then.
Preparation for the 2027 season is underway, and more information will be shared as it becomes available, RMNP wrote.
» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com