A community group in Duck Mountain Provincial Park has launched a campaign with the aim of keeping zebra mussels out of their lake. The campaign from “Friends of Madge Lake” comes after the invasive species was found in the nearby Lake of the Prairies. The lake crosses the interprovincial boundary between Saskatchewan and Manitoba and is in relative proximity to Madge Lake – just 30 miles away. The news has been met with alarm by many who call the area home, including “Friends of Madge Lake” member Barbara McLean. “Horror. To be quite honest, concern,” McLean said, describing her initial reaction. “People are very concerned. This is an invasive species that cannot be eradicated if it enters the water.” Zebra mussels are freshwater shellfish native to Eurasia. They first entered the Great Lakes in the late 1980s and have since spread across other parts of Canada. According to Jeri Geiger, team lead with Saskatchewan’s Aquatic Invasive Species Program, the mussels can dramatically alter aquatic ecosystems. “They’re filter feeders,” Geiger said. “What they’ll do is take out the phytoplankton, the plankton from the water, which then reduces food availability for other native species.” However, the impacts extend beyond fish and aquatic habitats. Zebra mussels can attach themselves to docks, boats, water intake pipes and other infrastructure. Their sharp shells can accumulate along shorelines and ruin beaches. Once established, they are difficult and costly to manage. Geiger said Saskatchewan has focused heavily on prevention since zebra mussels were discovered in neighbouring Manitoba. The province’s approach includes public education, watercraft inspections and monitoring programs designed to intercept invasive species before they reach Saskatchewan waters. “Prevention is always the most cost-effective method,” Geiger said. Madge Lake, which sits near Highway 83, currently has no inspection and decontamination station set up, despite connecting Manitoba with other popular bodies of water in the area, such as Good Spirit Lake and Crystal Lake. “That station at Wroxton, for example, most of the traffic that’s coming on that highway is coming directly from Lake of the Prairies,” Geiger said, explaining why the province prioritized Highway 10. Wroxton is situated around 60 kilometers south of Madge Lake. Facing these logistical problems, cottage owners soon took matters into their own hands, and Friends of Madge Lake launched its “One Boat, One Lake,” campaign on Wednesday. The civil initiative encourages boat owners to keep their watercraft on a single lake whenever possible. Participants register their boats, trailers, kayaks or paddleboards, sign a pledge and receive a sticker indicating their commitment. “We’re counting on the goodwill of cottage owners and users of the park,” McLean said. “If they choose to leave the lake, they’ll ensure that their watercraft is decontaminated before they bring it back.” The campaign is voluntary, but organizers hope it will foster a culture of responsibility among lake users. McLean said the idea was inspired by similar programs elsewhere, including at Sandy Lake in Manitoba, where local efforts have helped keep zebra mussels out despite its proximity to infested waters. “I would like to think it is not inevitable,” she said. “If we each take responsibility and take it seriously.” For longtime resident Wayne Kondra, the campaign is about preserving a place where families have gathered for decades. “I have three kids and grandkids, and they all enjoy the lake immensely,” Kondra said. “We want to protect our lake.” Kondra spent summers at Madge Lake as a child before building his own home near the water. Today, boating, tubing and family gatherings remain a central part of life at the lake. “Kids will remember it for their lifetime,” he noted. Like many residents, Kondra once viewed zebra mussels as a distant problem. That perspective has changed in recent years. “The problem just keeps getting closer and closer to our area,” he said. “We want to do whatever we can to preserve it.” Kondra signed up to volunteer with the campaign and hopes the sticker program will complement existing inspection efforts by identifying watercraft that remain exclusively at Madge Lake, helping streamline inspections at busy checkpoints. “We’re hoping that we can stop it and that it never comes here,” he said. While local residents continue to advocate for additional resources, Geiger emphasized that public awareness remains one of the strongest tools available. The province encourages all boaters to follow the “Clean, Drain, Dry” approach by removing plants and debris from watercraft, draining standing water and ensuring equipment is thoroughly dried before entering a new waterbody. “If you clean, drain, dry a watercraft every time you use it, you’re effectively preventing the spread of all invasive species, not just zebra mussels,” Geiger said. The team lead encourages everyone to visit the government’s website to learn more about preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species – adding the Ministry of Environment has grants available for programs such as the Friends of Madge Lake. “Through the Fish and Wildlife Development Fund, which is funded through angling and hunting licenses, there is a grant program that is available for different projects,” she said. “Aquatic invasive species is one of the topics that is high priority.” Project proposals must be received prior to Dec. 31 of each year. For now, Madge Lake remains free of zebra mussels. As families continue enjoying the lake’s beaches, trails and waters this summer, residents hope a combination of community action and education will help ensure future generations can do the same. “It’s a gathering place for families,” McLean said. “That’s what we’re trying to protect.” Those who plan to move watercraft or equipment that’s been used in the containment order area can contact aiswatercraftinspection@gov.sk.ca for inspection and decontamination.
