Zebra mussels, an invasive aquatic species, have devastating impacts where they are introduced. They can ruin fishing and recreational opportunities, alter aquatic habitat for plants and animals, and block water intake structures for hydro power. Since the initial discovery of zebra mussels in the Great Lakes in the 1980s, this species has now spread to more than 20 states and two provinces in eastern North America, causing billions of dollars in damage along the way. According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the threat of these mussels arriving and establishing in the Columbia Basin is high.
“We are extremely concerned about zebra mussels arriving in our waters,” said Sheila Street of FortisBC who sits as Chair on the Central Kootenay Invasive Plant Committee’s (CKIPC) Aquatic Invasive Species Working Group. “Not only can these mussel infestations devastate the ecology of our river and lake systems, they can block water intake structures in hydroelectric plants, causing millions of dollars in damages and increase operating costs.”
Once mature, a female zebra mussel can produce up to one million eggs per year which hatch into swimming larvae called “veligers.” Since these larvae are microscopic, they can be transported on boats and equipment from one body of water to another. Adult mussels can live out of water, in moist conditions, for two weeks.
“They could arrive to our waters any day,” said Crystal Klym, Executive Director of the CKIPC. “It just takes one zebra or quagga mussel contaminated boat or wet bucket to launch into our rivers.”
In 2012, quagga mussels, a close relative of zebra mussels, were found on a boat that was launched into Shuswap Lake, but luckily the mussels were dead. Because of this risk the CKIPC Aquatic Invasive Species Working Group recently completed a two-year monitoring project to determine whether or not larvae of zebra and quagga mussels were already present in the Canadian Columbia Basin. With funding from the Environment Canada Damages Fund, and partnerships with the Province of BC, Slocan Lake Stewardship Society, FortisBC and Teck Metals Ltd., this project monitored for zebra larvae at nine locations including sites in the Arrow Lakes, Kootenay Lake, Slocan Lake, Pend D’Oreille River and Columbia River (near Trail).
“This was a great project to train local volunteers how to detect for mussels early, and to educate water users on this threat.” said Street. “Fortunately, no mussel larvae were detected.”
“Prevention is key,” continued Klym. “We encourage boaters and other aquatic recreationists to clean, drain and dry their boat and equipment when they move between water bodies to prevent the spread of aquatic invaders like these invasive mussels.”
For more information, contact CKIPC at 250-352-1160 or see www.ckipc.ca.