Parks Canada has announced new restrictions related to water-based recreation across mountain national parks in Alberta and British Columbia, part of a broader effort to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species and protect rivers and lakes in Canada’s national parks. Beginning this spring, the national parks authority will introduce new water activity zones and associated use restrictions for lakes and rivers across the mountain parks. The new rules include bans on paddling and the use of large inflatables on Bow Lake and Morraine Lake in Banff National Park.
The measures follow the detection of whirling disease — an infectious disease capable of devastating fish populations — in Lake Louise in 2025, Parks Canada said. Whirling disease can severely impact trout, whitefish and salmon populations. Parks Canada said mortality rates among young fish can reach as high as 90 per cent in some cases.
The disease does not pose a risk to humans or other mammals. Preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species is the most effective way to protect lakes and rivers in national parks, Parks Canada said. And while water-based recreational activities attract thousands of visitors each year across the mountain national parks, they also increase the risk of introducing and spreading invasive species.
“It’s unlikely that whirling disease was spread to Lake Louise through natural fish movement, because there’s a natural fish barrier between Lake Louise and the Bow River,” said Francois Masse, Parks Canada field unit superintendent for Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay, at a Wednesday press conference. “It’s most likely whirling disease was introduced by mud or water on a watercraft or angling equipment.” To strengthen protections, Parks Canada is rolling out a coordinated strategy prevention strategy to protect ecosystems across the mountain national parks. Under the new rules, lakes and rivers in Banff, Jasper, Waterton, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks are grouped into three types of water activity zones.
Water Recreation Zones allow recreational use to continue with added safeguards. These include the Bow River downstream of Hector Lake, Lake Louise and Cascade Ponds. Visitors planning water activities in these areas must ensure their watercraft and equipment are cleaned, drained and dried, and carry a self-certification permit.
Water Preservation Zones include ecologically sensitive bodies of water or areas with limited recreational use. These include Bow Lake, Moraine Lake and any other waterbody not listed under another zone. Activities such as paddling, motor boating, fishing with waders or wading boots and the use of large inflatables are prohibited.
Special Tactics Zones are locations where site-specific rules apply. Currently, this designation applies only to Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park. All watercraft, waders and wading boots are prohibited, with the exception of motorboats that pass a Parks Canada inspection.
Rental watercraft available at the lakeshore that do not leave Lake Minnewanka are also exempt from the restrictions. How to certify For visitors using non-motorized watercraft, fishing gear or other equipment who must complete a self-certification permit, permits will be available at waterbody access points, trailheads, visitor centres and online, according to Parks Canada’s website. “By creating these restrictions, we are able to target the human mediated spread of aquatic invasive species,” said Parks Canada aquatic invasive species program coordinator, Marie Vellard.
“We understand the disappointment, that visitors would like to continue recreating on some of these water bodies,” Vellard added. “But we are trying to find a balance between protection of our sensitive ecosystems as well as finding locations and opportunities for visitors to continue water activity recreation in the parks.” Parks Canada is encouraging visitors to plan ahead and check which zone a body of water falls into to ensure their activity is permitted. For more information about the restrictions, visit the Parks Canada aquatic invasive species website.
