Kelowna Chamber calling for increased invasive mussel detection actions

The Kelowna Chamber is calling for an immediate action to prevent invasive mussels from entering bodies of water in the Okanagan and B.C.

Due to increased concerns of invasive quagga mussels found in Idaho’s Snake River, a tributary to the Columbia Basin, making their way into the province, the Chamber sent letters to Pablo Rodriguez, Federal Transportation Minister, and Nathan Cullen, B.C.’s Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, requesting increased funding to allow for round-the-clock monitoring of vessels being brought into B.C. It will also monitor across the Alberta and U.S. borders, and issue a moratorium on all out of province boats from entering B.C. until results of water treatment in Idaho has been assessed.

“This scourge has already ruined many freshwater lakes and rivers in Canada, and is currently irreversible,” Dan Price, chair of the Kelowna Chamber, stated.

“We have a good chance to stop it before it becomes established in our beautiful province.”

The Chamber noted it leads the Thompson Okanagan in pushing for these calls, originally brought forth by the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB).

“We are thankful for the support of Thompson Okanagan chambers, and the many other voices that have joined us, in our call to the federal and B.C. governments to commit to funding and legislation that will properly protect B.C. from invasive mussels,” OBWB Chair Blair Ireland, said.

“We’ve been calling for stronger support for more than a decade, recognizing the gaps in current prevention efforts. But now, with the threat closer than ever of an infestation reaching our shores, this issue has become critical.”

The Chamber’s letter noted that 155 watercraft identified as high-risk for mussel contamination were intercepted entering B.C. between May and December of 2023. Of those, 14 were confirmed to be carrying mussels.