By CHAT News Today

VIDEO: Invasive mussels found at Dunmore inspection station

Apr 19, 2017 | 10:55 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB —Alberta Environment and Parks are reminding boaters to have their boats inspected after finding an invasive species of mussels on the underside of a boat this weekend.

The mussels were found at the inspection station near Dunmore over the Easter weekend. The mussels have been sent for testing, and the boat is being decontaminated.

“When we decontaminate a boat, this is at no charge to the owner,” said Cindy Sawchuk, the lead on the watercraft inspections and decontamination program with Alberta Environment and Parks.

“What we use is hot water and high pressure, because that’s the only effective means that will kill and remove the mussels.”

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According to Sawchuk, the boat was travelling from Ontario. The mussels are the first to be found in Alberta this season. Boat inspections begin in March.

“We now have five stations open for operation at major points of entry into the province,” she said. “We’re finding that boaters are travelling not just in July and August. This time of year, we’re seeing a lot of commercially hauled large boats coming through.

“As well, we are targeting the snowbird population that likes to go south of the border, so we have three stations open at the Canada-U.S. border this year, as well.”

Quagga and zebra mussels are considered invasive species which can impact local ecosystems, and are impossible to remove once they have been found in an environment.

“When they get here, they don’t have any natural predators, so they’ll thrive,” she said. “They’ll reproduce very rapidly and they’ll completely take over the water body that they’re in.”

The mussels can also impact water treatment facilities and irrigation, leading to millions of dollars in repairs.

The mussels have been found in Ontario and Manitoba.

Boat inspections will be running in the province until November. Bypassing an inspection while carrying a boat is a violation of the Fisheries Act and can result in a $100,000 fine or 12 months in prison.

Sawchuk is reminding Albertans to get into the habit of cleaning their boats after they leave a waterbody.

“If you clean your boat so that there isn’t any mud or weeds or anything attached, drain all the water out and make sure it’s completely dry -so that means dropping your engine, emptying your bilge- that’s going to help us eliminate the risk of seeing an introduction into Alberta,” she said.

A full interview with Sawchuk about invasive mussels is posted below