Lake of the Prairies as seen from the Shellmouth Dam. (WIKIPEDIA)
Zebra mussel veligers that were recently found in Lake of the Prairies have triggered a rapid response by Manitoba Environment and Climate Change.
The province says it has activated its aquatic invasive species early detection rapid response plan after the larvae were found in the lake, which is a waterbody shared with Saskatchewan.
The discovery was made through the province’s routine surveillance monitoring program, with the findings corroborated by follow-up monitoring.
The response is being coordinated through a joint Manitoba-Saskatchewan incident command structure, with support from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Next steps include developing a targeted monitoring plan to better understand the detection, along with a multi-jurisdictional containment plan.
In the meantime, all water users leaving Lake of the Prairies are required to decontaminate their watercraft and water-related equipment before launching in another waterbody.
Up-to-date station watercraft inspection locations and hours, including mobile station updates, can be found at gov.mb.ca/stopais.
