BC’s Invasive Mussel Defence Program (IMDP) has received a funding boost ahead of the busy summer and tourist season.
The program works to protect BC lakes and rivers through early-detection lake monitoring, watercraft inspection stations and public outreach.
On Tuesday, BC’s Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said that BC Hydro is making a new five-year commitment of annual funding for the program.
A news release says that the company will be providing $900,000 beginning this year.
Other partners such as the BC Wildlife Federation, Pacific Salmon Foundation and Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation are also providing a collective contribution of $150,000.
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“I welcome the support from BC Hydro and our conservation partners as we continue the crucial work of keeping our waterways free of invasive mussels,” said Nathan Cullen, minister of water, land and resource stewardship, in the news release.
According to the release, the investments join BC’s core funding for the program as well as ongoing contributions provided by the program’s found partners, which include Columbia Basin Trust, Columbia Power and FortisBC.
The funding will support operations like watercraft inspections, compliance and enforcement actions, lake monitoring, public outreach and signs and educational efforts.
Last year, inspection crews completed about 20,900 inspections and interacted with more than 39,200 people to promote Clean, Drain Dry practices, the news release says.
Additionally, following the detection of invasive quagga mussels in Idaho, the BC Conservation Officer Service extended their service into November and December.
Inspection crews took 867 water samples in 2023, despite a challenging wildfire season, and all samples tested negative for invasive mussels.
Inspection station opened up for the 2024 season this month and will operate until October.
Blair Ireland, chair, Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) , said that the board had been sounding the alarm about the threat invasive mussels pose to BC’s lakes since 2012 and, as a result of the risk BC faces, launched the “Don’t Move a Mussel” campaign in 2013.
“Earlier this month, we launched an Invasive Mussel Vulnerability Assessment Guide. Each new partner and tool help strengthen efforts to keep B.C. waters invasive mussel-free,” Ireland said.
According to the province, if invasive zebra and quagga mussels were to be introduced into BC, the estimated cost of annual removal and management would range from $64 million to $129 million per year.
Although the province is doing all it can to educate people on the "Clean, Drain, Dry" guidance, the provincial government says it continues to advocate for the federal government tor resume funding for the program.
Earlier this year, members of the OBWB said the federal invasive mussels response "fell short."
In February, Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada announced an increase in funding through the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Fund (AISPF).
That included a $540K investment from 2023-2025.
Additionally, it said it was investing $90,000 to acquire two new decontamination trailers in BC to supper the Invasive Mussel Defence Program.
However, the OWBW said that although it was a welcome announcement, groups across BC continued to push for prevention efforts.
