Push continues for action on invasive clams and mussels

The Shuswap Watershed Council (SWC) is backing efforts by the Okanagan Basin Water Board and others to get additional funding to prevent invasive Zebra and Quagga mussels from entering B.C. waters, and measures to prevent the further spread of invasive clams.

“The Shuswap watershed, in particular, is at high risk of a new invasion of invasive mussels. Due to tourism and boat traffic — and our water quality conditions, ideal calcium and temperature — increase the likelihood the mussels will thrive,” Watershed Council Chair Paul Demenok, stated in a letter to Environment and Climate Change Minister George Heyman.

The letter states prevention is no longer an option to prevent invasive freshwater clams from entering the Shuswap Lake system as two colonies have already been found.

The province has done its own survey with divers and the SWC would like to have that information shared.