Zebra mussels were recently found in Lake Manitoba.
The cause of the zebra mussel invasion is people not properly decontaminating their boats or other water equipment.
This could cause several issues for the lake.
A well-known issue with zebra mussels is that they rapidly coat water intake pipes, which is a problem for drinking water treatment plants, and any other industry that’s pulling water out of the lake through a pipe.
Zebra mussels also affect local fish populations, as they coat some of the reefs that fish try to lay their eggs in.
Candace Parks, Aquatic Invasive Species Specialist with the Manitoba Government says it’s hard to tell what this invasion means for the lake, but it could be similar to the situation in Lake Winnipeg.
“From Lake Winnipeg, what we have been seeing is higher aquatic plant growth, beaches are being fouled with zebra mussel shells washing up on shore, I think people expect to see also zebra mussels clogging their water intakes, or their watercraft intakes, there will be more cost, more gas consumption for watercraft users.”
Candace says this invasion was preventable.
“Zebra mussels would have never made it to Lake Manitoba on their own, it would have taken human help to move them to this lake.”
Candace goes over the protocol requirements for using your watercraft in lakes.
“In addition to doing Clean Drain Dry, which is the legal general requirement, you must also decontaminate your watercraft or any gear that you put in the water. The fine is $2,542 for the failure to decontaminate a watercraft or water-related equipment that’s come out of a control zone or invaded water body.”
You can self-decontaminate using hot water, but if you can’t do it yourself you can visit government of Manitoba stations until the end of October.
“We have situated these watercraft inspection stations on highway pinch points. So if someone’s travelling from Lake Winnipeg we aligned our station on highway 6 for example, so people would have to pass by us. Just so people know it’s a legal requirement to stop at these stations.”
More information can be found on the government of Manitoba website.
