The Christina Lake Stewardship Society wants to keep mussels out of the lake.
Barb Stewart, a director of the society, spoke about the dangers of Zebra and Quagga mussels at its annual general meeting (AGM), held at the community hall at Christina Lake on March 21.
The mussels are fingernail-sized, freshwater mollusks that can easily attach themselves to objects and other organisms. They can clog pipes, disrupt ecosystems with large monocultures, are difficult to remove and non-native to British Columbia, stated the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia (ISC).
Stewart, who also works with Boundary Weed Management Committee, said the biggest concern is mussel “hitchhikers,” who attach themselves to boats.
Those boats could be destined for Christina Lake, she said. “If mussels make it into our lakes there will be huge impacts. We need to work on preventing them from getting into our waters.”
Mussels have been found in the Great Lakes in Ontario and Quebec, and in at least 24 American states as far west as California and Colorado, according to the ISC.
Last year five boats destined for B.C. were found with mussels on them.
“There is a big concern here because of our dam system, they can clog up all those little pipes they use for cooling the dams and it would be a huge amount of work to clean those out,” said Stewart. “The mussels would impact the actual systems within the lake … most of your deep water fish, like your trout and kokanee, will disappear.”
The Christina Lake Stewardship Society would like everyone to be aware that mussels are a threat. It’s encouraging every visiting boat to be thoroughly washed before it’s launched in the lake.
The Province of B.C. has added the mussels to the Controlled Alien Species Regulation as of December, which means people can be fined if they find Zebra and Quagga mussels attached to their boat or in their possession.
Milfoil control program continues
The milfoil control program will be commencing its 27th year in operation at the beginning of May.
Andy Gilmore, the supervisor of the program, spoke at the AGM at Christina Lake to raise awareness of the growing program, which is completely funded by local residents.
Milfoil – properly known as Eurasian Watermilfoil – is a “massive plant” that’s spread throughout the lake infecting the foreshore of both private property owners and the Crown land of Gladstone Provincial Park, according to the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary.
The supervisor and his crew of six divers were able to work their way around the whole lake last year, which is a first, thanks to increased funding, said Gilmore.
“This year we hope to have eight full-time divers,” he said. Each diver will spend 21 hours per week under water, removing the plants by hand, for a six-month season.
The funding for this year’s milfoil control program is $316,000, according to Gilmore, which is larger than it has ever been before.