The war on aquatic invasive species was given a boost recently with British Columbia’s chief veterinarian issuing an order making it illegal to transport watercraft in the province with the drain plug still in place.
The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) has vaguely welcomed the federal government’s funding announcement, arguing it offers virtually nothing for prevention efforts to keep Zebra and Quagga mussels out of BC.
The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) has decried the potential cutting of funding by the federal government which supports invasive mussel inspections in BC calling it “unacceptable and unjustifiable”.
Despite the alarming geographical encroachment of invasive quagga mussels only an 11 hour drive from BC’s border, another year of lake sampling indicates the Okanagan watershed remains free of invasive mussels.
Right now the battle to keep zebra and quagga mussels – both aquatic invasive species – out of B.C. is being waged successfully thanks to rising awareness amongst the general public and critically the “boots on the ground” in the form of inspectors from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.
Since 2015, B.C. has taken its fight against invasive zebra and quagga mussels to the streets with the Invasive Mussel Defence Program, which seeks to identify and quarantine contaminated water-faring vessels before they even reach the province.
Keeping invasive zebra and quagga mussels out of the lakes of the Okanagan region requires federal government support, according to the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB).
The Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society (OLWQS) has turned to the town for help after finding itself in desperate need of moorage for its water quality monitoring boat.