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A containment curtain installed in Clear Lake meant to prevent the spread of zebra mussels has been damaged and will be removed, Parks Canada announced this week.
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In a statement on Monday, Parks Canada said the curtain, which was installed in early August in Clear Lake, located in the Riding Mountain National Park, is no longer effective because of damage it sustained due to strong winds and waves on the lake this summer.
The curtain isolated an area of the lake near Boat Cove where invasive zebra mussels were discovered in November of 2023 and again in July of 2024, according to Parks Canada.
“The curtain was damaged and is no longer an effective means of containment and cannot be repaired or replaced this fall,” Parks Canada said.
The curtain was installed as one of several steps taken by Parks Canada at Clear Lake this summer to try and stop the spread of the mussels, which also included banning all personal watercraft from the lake back in May.
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Despite the loss of the curtain, Parks Canada said they will continue to try to stop the spread of zebra mussels and possibly “eradicate” them from Clear Lake, and said the boat ban will remain in place.
“For the remainder of the 2024 open water season, Parks Canada will continue intensive monitoring for environmental DNA, veligers, and evidence of live zebra mussels in Clear Lake,” Parks Canada said.
“This monitoring will continue until ice forms and will help determine whether plans for a potential eradication or control treatment using potash are feasible.”
“The private contractor that provided and installed the curtain will be responsible for its removal,” Parks Canada added.
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