A sign warning of watercraft being prohibited is seen on the main beach in Clear Lake, Riding Mountain National Park, on Thursday, July 11, 2024. (CHRISD.CA FILE)
Parks Canada says multiple living juvenile zebra mussels have been found in Clear Lake.
The mussels were found within the Riding Mountain National Park body of water on September 19-20.
Representatives from Parks Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the province’s aquatic invasive species program have visually confirmed the finding to be zebra mussels.
With the help of third-party expert consultants, the federal government will seek out a potential eradication treatment. A containment curtain meant to help prevent the potential spread of zebra mussels in Clear Lake, was removed earlier this month month after becoming damaged.
“The temporary watercraft management measures for Clear Lake remain in place and Boat Cove remains closed to the public until further notice,” officials said in a bulletin.
Live zebra mussels were first detected in Clear Lake in November 2023. Their discovery raised significant concerns about the potential impact on the lake’s ecosystem, leading to increased efforts for monitoring, prevention, and public awareness to control their spread.
