Water board says federal funding for mussel protections falls short

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is providing more funding to protect B.C.’s fresh water from invasive mussels, but some say it’s not enough.

The federal government has committed up to $540,000 to bolster the province’s Invasive Mussel Defence Program, as well as $90,000 to purchase two new decontamination trailers to support the program and educate the public on the risks of invasive species.

However, the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) said the investment is not enough.

“Although this may sound like a win, and it is a welcome announcement, it does not address recent calls to action made to the federal government from the Water Board, Thompson-Okanagan chambers, B.C. Wildlife Federation, Westbank First Nation, local governments, and others,” OBWB Executive Director Anna Warwick Sears, said.

“Most importantly, it does not directly support the prevention of invasive mussels in the West.”

The OBWB noted the $540,000 would be provided over three years, and would be used to fund water sampling in B.C. lakes and, while it is important work, it will not prevent invasive mussels from entering bodies of water.

The organization also said the new decontamination units would be helpful resources for assessing high-risk boats that have been stopped, but again noted this would not necessarily help to detect or prevent invasive mussels.

“After reviewing the news release, it has been determined that our calls to action still stand since the announcement does not address federal funding gaps and solutions that would prevent invasive mussels,” James Littley, OBWB’s invasive mussel policy lead, said.

“For example, it does not include funding to expand or support B.C.’s inspection stations – a critical program that has been proven to stop infested watercraft from entering B.C., but which needs to be expanded.”

The OBWB maintained its position that the Government of Canada needs to become a funding partner in B.C.’s Invasive Mussel Defence Program, provide direct funding and resources to B.C. to prevent invasive mussels from entering the province and institute a temporary moratorium on all out-of-province vessels from entering B.C. until the treatment of the quagga mussel outbreak in Idaho’s Snake River can be assessed.