Syilx Territory, Kelowna, B.C. – The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) acknowledges a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to protect B.C.’s waterways from invasive mussels with the introduction of the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2025. This proposed legislation includes changes to the Wildlife Act that would be an advancement in protecting the province’s ecosystems and economy from invasive mussels. For more than a decade, the OBWB has been tireless in advocating for greater efforts to prevent the spread of aquatic invaders.
“These proposed changes are a positive development, and we applaud the province for recognizing the shared responsibility of keeping waters free from invasive mussels.” says OBWB Chair Blair Ireland. “As the summer boating season is almost here, we encourage the legislature to pass the amendments and ask the province to expedite the regulations that will be needed to bring these very positive changes into force.”
The proposed changes to the Wildlife Act, as part of the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, include:
- Mandatory stops at open watercraft inspection stations: These amendments will enable mandatory inspections for watercraft, including those entering B.C. from another jurisdiction, prior to launch. This measure aims to enhance the inspection of boats and other watercraft to ensure they are free of invasive species, further protecting the province’s aquatic ecosystems.
- Pull-the-plug requirements: These amendments will enact “pull-the-plug” requirements, legally obligating individuals to remove drain plugs from their watercraft when transporting them.
Many other jurisdictions, including Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, have similar measures in place. The transportation of watercraft between waterbodies is the primary high-risk pathway for spreading aquatic invasive species, such as zebra and quagga mussels. At the end of April, Alberta inspectors intercepted their first watercraft of the 2025 season confirmed to be carrying invasive mussels—originating from Ontario. This incident is a clear reminder of how quickly these threats can cross provincial borders.
Invasive mussels can cause corrosion and clogging in hydro and water-delivery systems costing hundreds of thousands of dollars per facility every year. The mussels filter water so quickly that they can collapse the food chain for fish and cause significant water quality problems, including increasing toxic algae, botulism and E.coli. Razor-sharp mussel shells end up on beaches, and the smell and taste of the water changes once lakes are infested.
“We are pleased to see the provincial government taking action on this. This must be an ongoing effort and it will take work to develop the associated regulations. Significant funding will be required to enforce the new regulations, but given the severe economic harm that mussels would bring, B.C. can’t afford not to invest in these protections,” says OBWB Executive Director Melissa Tesche.
The OBWB has been a leading voice in advocating for stronger protections, consistently highlighting the importance of a robust legislative framework to address the increasing pressures from the encroaching spread of invasive mussels in both U.S. states and provinces. Significant funding will be required to ensure the new regulations can be enforced.
The proposed amendments are now under consideration by the legislature, and the OBWB strongly encourages the province to pass this legislation ahead of the 2025 boating season.
Once passed, these changes will mark a new chapter in the province’s commitment to protecting the Okanagan basin, and all B.C. waterways, from the threat of invasive mussels.
About the OBWB
The OBWB is a local government agency of the three regional districts that was established in 1970 to address critical water issues in the Okanagan watershed. The Board of Directors, comprised of representatives from the three Okanagan Regional Districts, the Okanagan Nation Alliance, the Water Supply Association of BC and the Okanagan Water Stewardship Council, works closely with OBWB staff to ensure the protection of the Okanagan basin. The Okanagan basin, a nearly 200-km long and 8,000 km2 area that includes the six main lakes – Okanagan, Kalamalka, Wood, Skaha, Vaseux and Osoyoos – and surrounding mountains, faces many unique water challenges.