Zebra Mussels (CENTRE FOR GREAT LAKES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES)
The Manitoba government has released further details on how it plans to address the zebra mussels problem on Lake Winnipeg.
Four harbours on the lake are at-risk, including Gimli Harbour, Silver Harbour Marine Resort/Arnes Harbour, Boundary Creek Marina/Winnipeg Beach Harbour and Balsam Bay Harbour in the south basin of Lake Winnipeg.
The zebra mussels will be fought by applying liquid potash to harbour waters. Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh said the treatment will not impact fish, discolour water, and or result in any odour.
Depending on the weather, work will begin shortly after May 20 and be carried out by the ASI Group Inc.
To minimize any disruption to the local fishers, the province will install a gated silt curtain that will keep the liquid potash in the harbour, but can be opened to allow fishers to get in and out of the harbour. The only exception is Balsam Bay Harbour, which is too shallow to accommodate a movable curtain so a full containment curtain will be installed.
Treatment schedule:
Boundary Creek Marina / Winnipeg Beach Harbour:
installation of the gated silt curtain: May 21 to 22
charging of harbour waters with liquid potash: May 23 to 25
estimated treatment completion date: June 3
Silver Harbour Marine Resort/Arnes Harbour:
installation of the gated silt curtain: May 23 to 24
charging of harbour waters with liquid potash: May 26 to 28
estimated treatment completion date: June 6
Gimli Harbour:
installation of the gated silt curtain: May 25 to 27
charging of harbour waters with liquid potash: May 29 to June 1
estimated treatment completion date: June 10
Balsam Bay Harbour:
installation of the gated silt curtain: May 28 to 29
charging of harbour waters with liquid potash: June 2 to 3
estimated treatment completion date: June 12
