How tourists and locals can help keep invasive mussels out of the Okanagan this summer

Whether it’s boating on Okanagan Lake, paddling on Kalamalka Lake, fishing with family, heading to the beach or welcoming friends from out of town, local waters are part of what makes the Okanagan special.

How tourists and locals can

help keep invasive mussels out of the Okanagan this summer Protect the lakes you love Whether it’s boating on Okanagan Lake, paddling on Kalamalka Lake, fishing with family, heading to the beach or welcoming friends from out of town, local waters are part of what makes the Okanagan special. This summer, travellers, visitors and residents are being reminded that protecting the Okanagan from the threat of invasive mussels takes all of us. The Okanagan Basin Water Board’s annual Don’t Move a Mussel campaign is back, encouraging everyone to help keep invasive zebra, quagga and golden mussels out of the region.

Why it matters Zebra, quagga and golden mussels may be small, but the damage they cause is huge. They can attach to boats, trailers, fishing gear, paddleboards, kayaks, inflatables and anything submerged in infested water. They can also survive out of water in damp spaces, making it easy for them to travel from one lake or province to another.

If invasive mussels make it into Okanagan waters, they will devastate local ecosystems, beaches, water infrastructure, tourism, agriculture and the way of life for residents and visitors who enjoy the valley every summer. Invasive mussels will also cost hundreds of millions of dollars in decreased property values, reduced tourism and infrastructure maintenance. The good news is B.C., particularly the Okanagan, is currently free of invasive mussels and simple actions can help keep it that way.

Invasive mussels are closer than you think For many people, invasive mussels can feel like a faraway problem. They are not. Invasive mussels have been creeping closer and closer to B.C. and the Okanagan.

They are already established through many parts of Canada and the United States, including Idaho (Snake River), Manitoba and the Great Lakes. Saskatchewan's Ministry of Environment is reporting a recent detection of invasive mussels in Lake of the Prairies and a single dead adult mussel was found along the shore of a reservoir in Oregon this June. The Invasive Mussel Defence Program intercepts mussel-infested watercraft and year after year half, or more, those boats are headed to the Okanagan.

That means prevention is the only protection we have every time someone travels with watercraft or gear from an infested region. Visiting the Okanagan with watercraft? Plan ahead If you are visiting the Okanagan this summer and bringing any type of watercraft, including a boat, kayak, canoe, paddleboard, inflatable, or fishing gear, make sure invasive mussel prevention is part of your travel plan.

• Stop at all open watercraft inspection stations. •

Clean. Drain. Dry. your boat, paddleboard, kayak, canoe, inflatables, fishing gear, and water toys.

• Pull the plug on your boat before transporting—it is the law. •

Rent your watercraft locally if you are coming from an infested region. Locals can help too Okanagan residents have an important role to play. If friends or family are visiting this summer and bringing watercraft, have the conversation before they arrive.

Remind them to stop at all inspection stations, pull the plug and follow the Clean. Drain. Dry. procedure.

Better yet, encourage them to rent locally. Renting watercraft in the Okanagan helps reduce the risk of transporting invasive mussels from another region. It is also an easy way for visitors to enjoy the lakes while supporting local businesses and protecting the places they came to enjoy.

Be a mindful traveller This year, the Don’t Move a Mussel campaign is also encouraging visitors to think about the impact they leave behind when travelling to this region. Through a partnership with the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association visitors are invited to be mindful travellers, support sustainable tourism and show commitment by taking the TOTA pledge. That means respecting the land, the water, and the people who call this region home, and making choices that help protect the future of the Okanagan for generations to come.

Protect the spots you love The Okanagan’s lakes are more than summer destinations. They are part of the region’s identity, economy, culture and everyday life. Keeping invasive mussels out is much easier than trying to deal with them after they arrive.

To learn more and access prevention resources, visit: DontMoveAMussel.ca To take the TOTA pledge, visit: thompsonokanagan.com/pledge This article is written by or on behalf of the sponsoring client and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

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