Keeping water safe from unwanted aquatic species focus of new program

A pilot project that is taking place now between the Kainai First Nation and the Alberta government is aimed at keeping the province’s waters safer.

The program, which involves the inspection of watercraft coming into Alberta, is being undertaken to help prevent the spread of unwanted species in the province’s lakes and rivers.

As part of the project, which was launched in late May and will continue until the end of the summer, six inspectors (including two from the Blood Tribe) have been hired to check boats and water equipment coming into Alberta from out-of-province locations. Inspectors, who only required one day of training, are specifically looking for zebra and quagga mussels as well as Eurasian watermilfoil.

“We’re trying to get the boating public aware of what we’re doing,” said project manager Cindy Sawchuk, with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Development.

Inspection stations have been set up near three border crossings in southern Alberta, Milk River, Cardston and Crowsnest Pass.
Signs near those stations request out-of-province visitors with boats or watercraft to stop at the inspection sites.

If an item is found to have either zebra or quagga mussels, it may be decontaminated on site or an inspector may request the owner keep the watercraft out of Alberta’s waters for up to 30 days.

Though they can be relatively small, mussels, which can live outside of water for close to a month, are capable of doing major damage. They can spread quickly, making it a challenge to remove. Besides harming aquatic ecosystems they are also capable of inflicting priceless damage to water-operated infrastructure.

If Eurasian watermilfoil are found on a boat or other equipment, it can be washed at the inspection site.

Eurasian watermilfoil can hinder water activities by damaging ecosystems. They are also capable of crowding out other native plants.

Though this inspection program is new to Alberta, Sawchuk says similar programs have been in effect in British Columbia and Manitoba. Alberta officials have been in touch with representatives from those provinces to discuss their program.
“They have been very helpful,” Sawchuk said. “It’s good because we don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”

Though this is a pilot project, Sawchuk says the goal is to expand this venture in the coming years.

Carrie Sancartier, a spokesperson for Alberta Environment and Sustainable Development, believes the program is valuable for protecting the province’s waters.

“One female mussel can have one million baby mussels,” she said. “That is a huge concern.”

Mussels attach themselves to hard surfaces and can damage intake pipes and irrigation systems.

“We’re trying to build awareness for the program before they come into Alberta’s waters,” said Sancartier.

Caption: Checking out watercraft for unwanted aquatic species is now a role undertaken by the Blood Tribe in a pilot project with the provincial government.