Parks Canada says a ban on watercraft on Clear Lake this summer is intended to protect the lake and prevent any further spread of zebra mussels.
An invasion of zebra mussels in the western Manitoba lake, in Riding Mountain National Park, would have a significant ecological and environmental impact, said Dameon Wall, a spokesperson for Parks Canada.
Zebra mussels could float all the way from Clear Lake to The Forks in downtown Winnipeg, which would have a “permanent cost” on the environment, agriculture, industry and recreation throughout southern Manitoba, he said.
“It’s become clear how important Clear Lake is to so many people,” Wall said at a Friday morning news conference held via Zoom.
Clear Lake drains into the Little Saskatchewan River, which flows into the Assiniboine River. Those water bodies pass through five First Nations, as well as the cities of Brandon and Portage la Prairie, Parks Canada notes.
“Nobody wins when zebra mussels show up,” Wall said. “That’s why Parks Canada has been working closely with others to try and prevent an invasion from taking hold.”
The ban is effective immediately, Parks Canada said, and will be in place “for the time required to determine if a population of zebra mussels has been established in Clear Lake and for any potential remediation during the 2024 open water season only,” a Thursday Parks Canada news release said.
The temporary ban applies to all watercraft, including motorized boats, canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards.
Swimming and fishing from shore or wharfs will still be allowed, as will the use of beach toys, inflatables and personal floatation devices.
Parks Canada says the ban is needed to determine whether there is an established colony of zebra mussels in Clear Lake and if eradication is possible, adding that personal watercraft can complicate, interfere and prolong that work while increasing the risk of spread.
Parks Canada officials found live zebra mussels in Clear Lake at Boat Cove in Riding Mountain National Park last November.
Since then, it’s conducted sets of water sample tests.
All test results from water samples taken throughout the winter of 2024 have come up negative for zebra mussel environmental DNA, an April update on Parks Canada’s website said.
However, the invasive species could still be present in the lake, since “in cold water, zebra mussels are less metabolically active and are much less likely to shed eDNA,” the federal agency said.
Wall said Friday park staff have had many conversations with people regarding their concerns about the lake and how their business may be affected by the ban, which staff took into consideration while making the decision.
“What we’ve heard is an overwhelming consensus to do what’s best for the lake for now and for the future,” Wall says.
Parks Canada will add additional staff to help monitor the lake and enforce the ban. Wall says anyone who violates the temporary ban could face a maximum fine of $25,000 under the Canada National Parks Act, but that enforcement will begin with having a discussion with offenders.