Show your mussels – boat inspection stations open across B.C.

The mussels from Brussels may be a welcome sight on the silver screen but not in B.C.’s waterways, as conservation officers open their boat inspection stations across the province.

The province’s Invasive Mussel Defence Program is active once again to keep zebra and quagga mussels out of B.C.’s lakes and rivers.

The Defence Program is delivered by the B.C. government and backed by the Columbia Basin Trust, BC Hydro, FortisBC and other organizations.

Columbia Basin Trust Chief Operating Officer Aimee Ambrosone says zebra and quagga mussels pose a threat to environments and economies if they gain a foothold in new waterways.

“These very small mussels can grow very quickly to clog water systems. That could be a hydropower facility, a water system used for agricultural production, a municipal water system, or it could just mean a beach that you’re walking on,” said Ambrosone.

“All of those things could become challenging to use because of those mussels.”

B.C. officials say it is mandatory for anyone towing a watercraft to stop at an inspection station.

Boat owners also have a role in preventing the spread of zebra and quagga mussels.

“Clean, Drain, Dry is a program to educate watercraft lovers to do their part to protect our waterways from aquatic invasive species by having their boats clean, any water drained out and making sure it’s completely dry before launching it into a new water body,” said Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society education coordinator c.

In 2024, conservation officers conducted about 24,500 inspections and found only 12 mussel-fouled watercraft.


Be the first to know! Don’t miss out on breaking news and daily updates in your area. Sign up to MyKootenayNowNews Alerts.

Continue Reading

cjat Now playing play

ckqr Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Zoey – a dog with a mix of everything!

This weeks Summit Radio Pet of the Week from the BCSPCA is Zoey!

B.C. boosts funding to expand RCMP hate crime unit

British Columbia is significantly expanding the RCMP’s provincial hate crimes unit.

This year’s West Kootenay-Boundary Move to Cure ALS Walk raises over $20k

West Kootenay-Boundary Move to Cure ALS is walking the talk, all the way to $20,176.

Does the Kootenay-Boundary Regional Hospital need a second access?

The West Kootenay-Boundary Regional Hospital District Board has raised the long-standing issue of the need for a second access to Kootenay-Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail.

Pape signs with Smoke Eaters

The Trail Smoke Eaters have signed another German defenseman.
- Advertisement -