Water board pushes feds for action on mussels

After hearing no response from the federal government about invasive mussel prevention since a meeting last spring, the Okanagan Basin Water Board has sent a followup letter asking for action.

“We are disheartened that the federal government hasnít made this a priority in our area,” said OBWB chair Tracy Gray.

In June, members of the OBWB met with the federal government, and it was noted that $43.8 million was allocated to address aquatic invasive species in Canada over five years, until 2022.

The OBWB wants some of that money to go to protecting the region from invasive mussels.

“We remain concerned that another boating season has gone by, and there have been no new steps federally, or by way of assistance to the provinces, to contain invasive mussels or to prevent the further spread of invasive mussels in Canada, specifically to Western Canada and our region in British Columbia,” the letter reads.

The OBWB requested an update on recommendations from the June 2017 meeting, including allocating funding to match provincial spending to improve invasive mussel education, to enhance the protection of federally controlled lands, waterways and border crossings, and to confirm participation in the Pacific Northwest economic region invasive species working group to co-ordinate efforts to stop the spread of invasive mussels.