Castanet – December 23, 2019
The Shuswap Watershed Council and the Okanagan Basin Water Board have sent a joint letter to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans about their concern over the possibility of invasive mussels in the region, and calling for action.
The organizations say the threat of the Zebra and Quagga mussels are a serious hazard to the ecosystem and its water.
“Every year we experience invasive mussel-infested watercraft arriving at our borders – heading to the Okanagan, the Shuswap, and other B.C. locations, with the vast majority coming from mussel-infested waters
within Canada,” says Sue McKortoff, the OBWB Chair. “And every year, our water is put at risk – for drinking, for fish and other wildlife. Our famous beaches, our water infrastructure, and more, is also put at risk.”