June 10, 2016 – Kelowna Capital News
The Okanagan Basin Water Board is calling for a stronger inspection program to keep invasive mussels out B.C. waterways.
Provincial mussel inspection stations only opened April 1, but already the stats show the need for a stronger program says the Okanagan Basin Water Board.
According to the province, as of June 6, their five stations along the B.C.-Alberta border, and three along the B.C.-Washington border have inspected 3,200 watercraft, of which 124 were identified as high-risk for invasive mussels. Of these 124, six were transporting adult invasive mussels and 16 were quarantined to meet the required 30-day drying time. Of the six carrying mussels, there’s a strong chance that they were alive, says government staff.