Invasive Invaders Invading!

To date, there has been no record of the species occurring in Alberta waterways, although there have been several mussel-fouled boats intercepted already this season! Most other jurisdictions have mandatory watercraft inspection stations with the same goal of thwarting a mussel invasion in mind. These inspection stations are incredibly valuable face-to-face educational opportunities as well as a mighty preventative tool. Ensuring that boats are CLEAN, DRAINED, and DRY prevents all kinds of other invasive species from taking up residence in our waters too, Eurasian watermilfoil, New Zealand mudsnails, and Didymo, to name a few. Due to the vast number of boat launches, it usually makes the most sense to set inspection stations up on major highways, which targets the highest risk boaters (who travel with their watercraft or buy them elsewhere) and provides the best safeguard to protecting our lakes.

Zebra and quagga mussels eat by filtering water and removing microscopic organisms. In a water body with a large outbreak of mussels, this filter-feeding can quickly deplete the lake of an important food source for native species in the lake, such as the larval and juvenile stages of sport fish. Additionally, by removing the microscopic organisms the water becomes much clearer. Less turbid water leads to much higher plant growth which wreaks havoc on boaters and changes the delicate balance of the natural ecosystem. Mussels have also been linked to exacerbating algae outbreaks and contributing to large-scale bird die-offs due to botulism contamination up the food chain.

The Alberta Government is initiating a program to fortify our borders from the threat of these invasive species. In the summer of 2013, boat inspection stations will be set up at some of our most vulnerable border crossings and a monitoring program will be initiated to ensure that our lakes have not already been infested. In addition, we will have an emergency response in place that will enable us to respond to situations where mussel-fouled boats can be intercepted and properly decontaminated before launching in Alberta lakes.

There are a few simple steps that people can take to prevent aquatic hitchhikers when transferring equipment from one water body to another:

• CLEAN your equipment. Before you leave the access area or dock, remove any plants, mud or debris. When you get home, soak your gear in a 2% bleach solution (20 ml of bleach per 1L of water) for one minute. Wash your boat with warm soapy water.
• DRAIN all the water from your boat and equipment (coolers, live wells, bilges, buckets and ballasts) before leaving the boat launch area.
• DRY your gear completely between trips and allow the wet areas of your boat to air dry.

Spread the word, not the species. Informing water users of the issues surrounding these species and the steps to take to reduce the threat is a major step that we can take to get ahead of the problem. If you or someone you know is bringing a boat in from elsewhere or planning on traveling with their boat, help us spread the word and protect our waters!