The Lake Windermere Ambassadors (LWA) is calling on the federal and provincial governments to place an immediate temporary moratorium on out-of-province watercraft to prevent the introduction of invasive mussels and to slow the spread of whirling disease in B.C.

In an April 10 letter to Hon. Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport and Hon. Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, the LWA said it stands with the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB), Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and others in a call for action.

“In response to the initiative taken by the OBWB, we are following up on the potential that the federal government may be cutting funds to the mussel inspection program in B.C. Invasive mussels were verified in 2023 in Idaho, an 11-hour drive from B.C.’s borders. While B.C. provincial staff and Conservation Officers do good work through the Invasive Mussel Defense Program (IMDP), serious gaps remain,” the LWA stated.

“Only a complete moratorium prior to establishing and maintaining round-the-clock monitoring will protect the fresh waters of our still mussel-free province from this invasive scourge. The IMDP budget has been severely cut in recent years, representing a significant risk to much of the province, including the East Kootenay.”

As cited in the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce letter dated February 13, 2024, between May and December 2023, the IMDP intercepted 155 watercraft entering B.C. that were identified as high-risk for invasive mussels; 14 were confirmed to be carriers, the LWA pointed out.

“Lake Windermere is located at the headwaters of the mighty Columbia River system and each summer we see upwards of 1,300 boats on our small lake. Many come from our neighbouring province of Alberta – where there is no watercraft inspection station along the way. Many of these boats are specialized wake boats with large bladder ballast systems which can store, carry, and transport water from one waterbody to another. If not properly governed, wake boats will be a major vector in the introduction and spread of invasive species.”

The LWA said it supports the OBWB’s, and the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce’s request for the following actions to be taken immediately by the Province of B.C.:

1. Introduce a temporary moratorium on out-of-province watercraft entering B.C.
2. Introduce “pull-the-plug” (on bilgewater) legislation to be in effect prior to the 2024 boating season.
3. Ask Canada’s Minister for Public Safety to issue direction for all watercraft entering Canada at all border crossings to be inspected prior to allowing entry.
4. Commit funding to the Invasive Mussel Defense Program of no less than $4 million per year.

The LWA said it further supports four “fill the gaps” actions to follow those above:

1. Enhance funding to recruit and retain Invasive Mussel Defense Program staff to 2019 levels. B.C.’s IMDP is currently under the jurisdiction of the B.C. Minister of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship.
2. Update the provincial Early Detection, Rapid Response plan.
3. Lead a planning process to create long-term response, containment, and control.
4. Promote vulnerability assessments by utilities, local jurisdictions, and private entities.

“The stunning natural beauty of the Columbia River system, including Lake Windermere and the adjoining wetlands (recognized as a Ramsar site – a wetland of international importance) contains high ecological values that must be protected. This must be a priority for all levels of community, elected officials, and decision makers. We are willing to be a part of this endeavour and call on you to take immediate action on the requests we are making today,” concluded the LWA letter signed by Taoya Schaefer, Lake Windermere Ambassadors Chair and Vice-Chair Shannon Nickerson.

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