The main beach on the southern shores of Clear Lake in Riding Mountain National Park on Thursday, July 11, 2024. (CHRISD.CA FILE)

Recreational boaters will be allowed to launch their watercraft into Clear Lake waters this summer following a one-year ban.

Parks Canada announced on Tuesday a “one boat, one lake” aquatic invasive species prevention program.

The program is similar to 2023, where boat owners had their trailers tagged to only be used in Clear Lake and nowhere else. In 2024, boating was completely banned after the further discovery of zebra mussels in the lake.

Efforts to eradicate or contain the species were made, but officials admit further action to do so isn’t possible.

“The discovery of hundreds of live juvenile zebra mussels attached to docks and infrastructure near the east end of Clear Lake in the fall of 2024 indicated that zebra mussels are not isolated to the Boat Cove area of the lake, where they had previously been found and where the containment curtain had been installed,” Parks Canada said in a bulletin.

“This discovery prompted a review of management actions. With input and advice from Indigenous advisors, the Province of Manitoba, and leading scientific and international experts, Parks Canada has determined that eradicating zebra mussels from Clear Lake in Riding Mountain National Park is not feasible.”

Public input for 2025 season

To help shape the 2025 AIS prevention program, park officials are inviting the public to provide input on February 1-2 between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. during Winter Adventure Weekend behind the visitor centre in Wasagaming. An online questionnaire is also available until February 28.

Details on when and how boat owners can have their watercraft inspected and trailers tagged for this season are forthcoming.