Dreissenid Mussels Invasion
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association urge the provincial government to enact/amend legislation and/or regulations to encompass zero tolerance, mandatory inspections and the necessary enforcement authority for dreissenid mussels to ensure the species does not invade Alberta.
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association urge the provincial government to take preventative measures including the establishment, funding and staffing of mussel inspection stations at strategic entrances into Alberta and the funding of a comprehensive awareness campaign on the risk of the species entering the province and the preventative measures boaters must take to eliminate the risk.
WHEREAS Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development estimates that a dreissenid mussel (quagga and zebra mussels) invasion into Alberta water bodies could have a detrimental $75 million annual impact on the Alberta economy;
WHEREAS the economic impact targets many aspects of the economy including but not limited to drinking water systems, water diversion intakes, water management structures and power generation;
WHEREAS the annual cost of preventing the invasion of this species is much less than the annual cost of mitigating the damages after an invasion;
WHEREAS these mussels are listed as prohibited species in Alberta’s Fisheries Act but current provincial measures are not sufficient to ensure the species does not invade provincial water bodies; and
WHEREAS zebra mussels are migrating closer to Alberta and have been found as close as Lake Winnipeg increasing the urgency to address this situation.
Dreissenid mussels include both zebra mussels and quagga mussels. These non-native species are native to Eastern Europe and it is thought that they were introduced into North America on ocean ships through the St. Lawrence Seaway. They are spreading throughout the parts of the United States and eastern Canada with zebra mussels found in Lake Winnipeg in October 2013. These mussels filter organisms out of water altering the food chain in turn threatening existing native species. They also cling on to any solid object accumulating to the point that they clog up municipalities' water intake pipes and irrigation infrastructure. If introduced into Alberta it is estimated that the financial impact to mitigate damages will be $75 million annually including $20,839,921 to drinking water systems. These mussels are listed as prohibited species in the Alberta fisheries Act but diligence in enforcement is lacking. When inspection stations have been set up, the requirement for the inspections is voluntary with many Canadians opting not to have their boats inspected. On the other hand, Americans at Alberta inspection stops are more likely to agree to the inspections as they are mandatory in some states. In fact, inspections in the United States in 2013 alerted the Province that seven boats contaminated with the mussels were headed for lakes in Alberta. Alberta tested for the mussels in some water bodies in 2013 and have carried out pilot boat inspections at certain border locations. They intend to continue with this program in 2014. This is not enough, however, as inspections are voluntary as noted earlier. A more diligent approach backed by strong legislation is required along with funding for inspection stations. Funding education campaigns is also important in preventing these mussels from entering Alberta. Boaters need to be aware of the risks that these mussels pose and the steps that they can take to ensure they are not contaminating our lakes. Spending money on these precautionary methods is much cheaper on an annual basis than having to enter the mitigation phase and with these mussels already in Manitoba it is now that the Province must act.
March 2015 (Environment and Sustainable Resource Development)
On March 30, the province adopted Bill 13 the Fisheries (Alberta) Amendment Act, which provides for mandatory inspections of boats and watercraft that are transported into our province.
The amendments give law enforcement officials greater authority in dealing with contaminated watercraft. Bill 13 also includes a prohibited species list that will restrict the sale and possession of aquatic invasive invertebrates, plants and fish.
These amendments, along with existing monitoring and public awareness campaigns, will reduce Alberta’s vulnerability to an infestation of mussels and other invasive species which would have severe and far-reaching recreational, environmental and economic impacts
July 2015 (Environment and Parks)
The Government of Alberta along with several western provinces and the Yukon Territory, is finalizing and interprovincial agreement to ensure co-ordinated regional defence against aquatic invasive species.
AUMA accepts this response.