Parks Canada allowing return of motorized watercraft to Manitoba lake, with conditions

Parks Canada is listing a ban on motorized watercraft on Clear Lake this year, though some conditions remain.

Motorized watercraft will be allowed to return to a Manitoba lake this season with some conditions.

Parks Canada announced Wednesday it will allow the boats to run on Clear Lake in riding Mountain National Park during the 2026 season, with some conditions. A ban was in place last year on motorized boats after zebra mussels, an aquatic invasive species, were discovered in Clear Lake in 2023.

The conditions include a mandatory tagging program for boats, which means the boats can only operate in Clear Lake and nowhere else.

Other measures include an expanded no-wake zone to help protect shorelines, designated dawn and dusk quiet periods for non-motorized watercraft use only and two days a week where motorized craft cannot run.

Parks Canada is also looking at introducing a launch fee structure to help support lake management costs, which is expected to be implemented in 2027.

Parks Canada said the decision was made following several months of discussions with local stakeholders and Indigenous partners. Full details are being finalized and will be revealed when the season begins in May.

All boats and watercraft will continue to be inspected during the season.