Vernon Matters – May 14, 2021
Current travel restrictions may mean fewer watercraft entering B.C. this spring and summer, but inspectors will still be on the lookout for harmful zebra and quagga mussels hitching a ride on boats.
From now until late October, inspectors with the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS) will check boats for aquatic invasive species as part of the province’s Invasive Mussel Defence Program (IMDP). Inspectors are educating people about the importance of Clean, Drain and Dry—preventative steps that all boaters should practise when moving between lakes and rivers.
“Invasive species like zebra and quagga mussels are a major threat to our ecosystems and infrastructure in British Columbia,” George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, said. “Through our program, we’re taking the necessary steps to protect our waterways today and for the years to come.”