Two Columbia Shuswap-based organizations are turning up the heat on invasive species prevention efforts.
The increased movement of boats and other types of watercraft into and around the Shuswap means that there’s an increased risk of an accidental introduction of zebra and quagga mussels, which are small freshwater mussels native to Europe with tremendous destructive potential. The Shuswap Watershed Council and the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society are working together to try to prevent just that from happening.
“Zebra and quagga mussels would create enormous problems in the Shuswap because they cling to, colonize, and encrust any hard surface under water: boats, dock pilings, water supply and irrigation systems — anything,” says Robyn Hooper, executive director of the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society. “Once they’ve been introduced to a lake, it’s impossible to get rid of them for good.”
“The mussels will litter beaches with their razor sharp shells. They produce foul odours, and they pollute water quality which puts the lake ecosystem and drinking water at risk,” adds Erin Vieira, program manager for the Shuswap Watershed Council.
“The primary way the mussels would get to the Shuswap is by hitchhiking on boats, fishing gear, or other watercraft such as canoes and stand-up paddleboards from other lakes where the mussels occur,” says Vieira. “We can keep them out, as long as we follow a couple preventative measures,” adds Vieira.
Hooper says the mussels aren’t known to be established anywhere in BC, but they do occur in lakes in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and several states. “That means that anyone travelling into B.C. with a watercraft is considered higher risk, and they need to stop at a watercraft inspection station as they pass by. Government staff will inspect and decontaminate your watercraft, if needed, free of charge,” says Hooper.
Watercraft owners ought to clean, drain, and dry their watercraft every time they move from one waterbody to another. “This is a really good practice to avoid moving a variety of invasive species, but not as rigorous as a mussel decontamination,” adds Vieira. “We can’t overstate the importance of watercraft inspection and decontamination.”
In 2018 the provincial watercraft inspection program, which is run by the B.C. Conservation Officer service, intercepted 25 mussel-fouled watercraft. “This number seems low, but it’s very scary. It will only take a single contaminated watercraft launching in the Columbia or Shuswap to establish invasive mussels here,” says Hooper.
BC Government: Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels
Any suspected transport or possession of zebra and quagga mussels should be reported to the Provincial RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.