Zebra mussels have been found in two more bodies of water in Manitoba. The province announced Monday that zebra mussel larvae were found in both Lake Winnipegosis and Waterhen Lake. Samples were collected from both lakes in late August and larvae were present. Then, a fisher reported finding zebra mussels attached to their boat after taking it out of Lake Winnipegosis. Officials plan to do additional monitoring at both lakes over the next few weeks to see how significant the zebra mussel population is. “To prevent and contain the spread of zebra mussels, effective immediately, all water users leaving Lake Winnipegosis and Waterhen Lake are required to decontaminate their watercraft and water-related equipment before launching in another waterbody. Signs are being placed at access points to notify water users of this requirement,” the province said in a news release. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in partnership with the Manitoba government, has performed three roadside inspections for zebra mussels this summer close to the Manitoba-Ontario border along Highway 1. In two cases, just under a quarter of watercraft failed inspections, while the first blitz done in May saw over half of inspected boats fail. Several bodies of water in the province have seen zebra mussels appear, including the Gimli Harbour, Lake Winnipeg, and Lake of the Prairies—which found zebra mussel larvae. Parks Canada also put a boat ban into effect in 2023 in Clear Lake after mussels were found. That ban has since been lifted, but a one-boat, one-lake rule still applies. The government is once again reminding Manitobans to ensure all watercraft are completely cleaned and dried before entering another body of water, saying residents play a critical role in preventing the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species.
