By Barb Brouwer
Contributor
The potentially catastrophic impact of invasive zebra and quagga mussels to the economy of B.C. sparked discussion at the Columbia Shuswap Regional District board meeting on Nov. 16.
Electoral Area E director Rhona Martin asked directors to consider a letter Shuswap Watershed Council Chair and Area F director Jay Simpson wrote to The B.C.Ministries of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship and Environment and Climate Change Strategy, with copies going to federal MP Mel Arnold and provincial MLAs.
In his Nov. 2 letter, Simpson expressed the Watershed Council’s extreme concern about the threats posed by invasive zebra and quagga mussels (ZQM) to B.C. waters.
“We are calling upon your ministries to respond with urgency and with new measures to prevent a potentially catastrophic spread of invasive mussels to the Shuswap and to B.C.,” he wrote, noting a recent economic impact report estimated the cost of dealing with a ZQM infestation is now $64 to $129 million annually in B.C. “The economic impact report shows that every major population centre and agricultural region in the province is at risk of a moderate-to-high infestation based on water chemistry, and that there will be impacts to hydro-electric facilities, water treatment facilities and water intakes, irrigation infrastructure and food production, and losses to tourism and property values.”
Simpson pointed out that while B.C. is still free of invasive mussels, they have been detected in Idaho, which
shares a border with B.C. and the trans-boundary Columbia River system.
“Many of us are concerned that it’s not a matter of if, but when invasive mussels will spread to the province if new prevention measures aren’t put in place,” wrote Simpson.
While appreciative of the work done by conservation officers and provincial staff on watercraft inspection and organizations working to educate watercraft owners about the importance of the current ‘Clean-Drain-Dry’ program, Simpson calls for other measures: expand the Invasive Mussel Defence Program (IMDP) to include: that all routes into B.C. from Alberta and the U.S. have 24/7 watercraft inspection and decontamination stations; introduce ‘pull-the-plug’ legislation, requiring all watercraft to have their drain plugs removed prior to travelling on B.C. roads; review and update the provincial ZQM Early Detection and Rapid Response Plan (published in 2015) and advocate for new containment measures in Manitoba and Ontario which already have ZQM infestations.
“The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans needs to take strong action and fully enact the Aquatic Invasive Species Regulation,” Simpson wrote. “Our prevention efforts in the West must be met with robust containment measures in eastern and central Canada. Watercraft should not be able to leave watersheds known to have ZQM infestations without being inspected, decontaminated, and issued a quarantine period if necessary.”
Read more: Regional district wants more done to prevent quagga mussel spread
Read more: North Shuswap recovery among priorities for returning CSRD board chair
Simpson’s letter concluded with an admonishment to both federal and provincial offices with whom the watershed council has previously shared concerns, and an acknowledgment of similar calls to action by the Okanagan Basin Water Board.
Martin noted that Idaho is not far from B.C. and that the risk of the invasive mussels to B.C. is huge. She suggested that the watershed council letter be sent to the ministries of tourism and finance, and made a motion for the CSRD board to write its own letter bringing more attention to the issue.
In response to Simpson’s suggestion that other regional districts be asked to sign on to the letter in order to broaden the impact, CAO John MacLean suggested the letter could be copied to the regional districts along with a request that each provide their own letters of support.
“I’m confident that this is a burning issue and we should probably talk to the CBT as because it’s been a big issue for the Columbia Basin Trust as well,” he said. “It’s not quite the same impact but it’s probably doable in the short term.”
District of Sicamous Mayor Colleen Anderson noted the Okanagan Water Basin has called for a short moratorium on boats coming into the province but said she does not believe it to be an appropriate solution.
She said the protection of borders is more important.
Chair Kevin Flynn agreed with Anderson.
“If you’re gonna stop all boats coming into B.C., you’re gonna need people at all the crossings to make sure the boats aren’t coming to B.C.,” he said. “The enforcement has the same cost, so why not not destroy tourism and spend the money on monitoring the boats that are coming?”
Directors agreed the board’s letter should have a specific ask, and that it should be that the province provide monitoring of all boats entering the province.
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