Alberta has officially launched Canada’s first watercraft dip tank to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species. The dip tank in Dunmore uses hot water to treat watercraft and trailers, killing mussels, larvae and other invasive species on hulls, intakes, engines and ballast tanks. The $1.2-million tank is large enough to fully submerge watercraft and is particularly effective for large boats with ballast systems that can be difficult to clean. Alberta’s waters remain free of invasive mussels. Eight watercrafts carrying the species have been intercepted coming into Alberta so far this year—all at the Dunmore station. Officials say it’s imperative aquatic invasive species be kept out of the province’s lakes, rivers and reservoirs that provide water to our cities, towns and farmers. “Invasive mussels would be a huge problem for us,” said Richard Phillips, Alberta Irrigation District Association chair. “They could clog the pipeline intakes in our canals and our reservoirs. They could reduce our pipeline flow capacity. They could make our flow-control gates and our valves inoperable. “They would simply be a very costly nuisance.” A mobile dip tank is expected to be operational next year. Earlier this year, the province announced two new conservation K-9s to sniff out aquatic invasive species. There are a record 12 watercraft inspection stations in the province.
