Motorized watercraft banned on Clear Lake in 'disappointing journey' to fight zebra mussels

Parks Canada is banning the usage of motorized watercraft connected Clear Lake this twelvemonth successful what it hopes volition beryllium an effort to curtail the dispersed of zebra mussels.

While the prohibition is causing turmoil for businesses, a First Nation successful the country sees it as a motion of anticipation successful a "disappointing journey" to combat the invasive species.

The national bureau announced successful a Friday bulletin it had made the "difficult decision" to enforce the regularisation for a 2nd clip since past twelvemonth "to support the wellness of Clear Lake" after zebra mussels were archetypal detected successful the lake successful November 2023.

Under the restriction, non-motorized watercraft — including kayaks, canoes and inflatables — can inactive run successful Riding Mountain National Park under definite conditions, which see an yearly permit, limitations connected which bodies of h2o are used, an inspection and a cleaning protocol.

"We're blessed with Parks Canada's decision," said James Plewak, erstwhile main of the Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation, which borders the northwest country of the lake. 

Plewak, who is besides a elder authoritative with a conjugation of 7 First Nations with interests in Riding Mountain National Park, said it has been a "disappointing journey" since the invasive taxon was archetypal discovered. 

Parks Canada tried to incorporate zebra mussels by mounting a two-kilometre underwater curtain at Boat Cove adjacent Wasagaming past summertime — but it dislodged conscionable days aft installation was completed.

Months later, hundreds of unrecorded juvenile zebra mussels were recovered attached to docks and different structures adjacent the eastbound extremity of Clear Lake, indicating their dispersed was not isolated to the country wherever they had been primitively found. 

Earlier this twelvemonth Park Canada said the afloat grade of wherever the zebra mussels person dispersed is yet unknown, but eradicating them would necessitate for the full colonisation to beryllium identified, isolated and contained from the remainder of the lake. 

Plewak is acrophobic that if zebra mussels migrate to shallower parts of the lake, they mightiness administer faster and trickle into outlets that travel into the Little Saskatchewan River and downstream done respective communities. 

"The determination is based upon erring connected the broadside of caution," helium said. 

While Parks Canada has the jurisdiction to contented bans connected Clear Lake, First Nations person a pact close implicit Riding Mountain National Park, Plewak said. 

"We person a antithetic level of work towards the lake," helium said. "Parks Canada made a liable determination determination and the First Nation is successful enactment of it."

Ban stands to 'ruin' business 

Kelsey Connor, who has been operating the Clear Lake Marina and the Martese circuit vessel retired of Wasagaming successful Riding Mountain National Park since 2015, said Parks Canada's determination is putting into question whether oregon not his concern volition cease to exist. 

"At the infinitesimal … I deliberation that our concern is ruined," helium told CBC.

The prohibition came arsenic a astonishment to Connor. He said Parks Canada had indicated to him this summertime it would beryllium "business arsenic usual" connected the lake, truthful the marina had already hired unit for the upcoming months successful hopes of bouncing backmost from past year's restrictions.

Connor learned of the determination an hr earlier the national bureau made it nationalist connected Friday, coming as a "complete shock" to him. 

"We trusted Parks Canada … and we felt obligated to clasp up our extremity of the bargain and supply immoderate services for visitors," helium said. 

"We've lone been affirmative contributors to the zebra mussel fight."

The watercraft operated by Connor's marina airs nary hazard of introducing invasive species, helium said, arguing utilizing it astatine the capableness his institution does could assistance with the problem. 

"I don't cognize wherefore this is happening … It's hard to judge that it's not imperishable due to the fact that we conscionable can't run a concern similar this."

Parks Canada said is taking connected broad probe this twelvemonth to find "how motorized watercraft impact ecological, socioeconomic and taste components of Clear Lake." 

But the national bureau said the attack it's taking is simply a balancing enactment betwixt helping support each h2o bodies successful Riding Mountain National Park and ensuring water users tin resume the activities they missed past year, aft akin bans connected watercrafts were imposed.

Kyle Bazylo, subordinate of the Clear Lake Cabin Owners' Association, said the authorities had a accidental of halting the dispersed of zebra mussels erstwhile they were first discovered connected the water, but "they dropped the shot from Day 1." 

Now determination is small to nary anticipation of slowing it down, helium said, and fixed however scattered zebra mussels are already connected the lake, helium thought Parks Canada should "admit defeat" and larn however to unrecorded with them. 

"I don't cognize wherefore they're playing this game," helium said. "The deficiency of guidance and management … is frustrating."

Bazylo said the watercraft prohibition is "a unspeakable decision" that helium believes could also impact spot values if people's worries pb them to sell off their cottages. 

"Money [was] wasted by mediocre decision-making, and there's nary accountability, and determination should beryllium immoderate benignant of accountability here," helium said.