June 22, 2016 – Osoyoos Times
Provincial inspections for invasive mussels that started April 1 are finding a disturbing number of suspect and contaminated boats coming to the Okanagan.
This has prompted the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) to call for a stronger provincial program.
They are asking for an extension of opening hours for inspection stations beyond the current 10 hours a day and for mandatory reporting to an inspection station before a boat coming from outside B.C. is launched in B.C. waters.
As of June 6, the five inspection stations along the B.C.-Alberta border and three along the B.C.-Washington border had inspected 3,200 watercraft.
Of these, 124 were identified as being high risk for carrying invasive mussels. Six were found to be transporting adult invasive mussels, with a good chance they were still alive.