Parks Canada is prohibiting the usage of motorized watercraft on Clear Lake for this year with the aim of trying to prevent the proliferation of zebra mussels.
Although the restriction is creating chaos for local companies, a nearby First Nation views it as a beacon of optimism amidst what they see as a frustrating progression in combating the invasive species.
The federal agency
notified in a Friday announcement
It had made the “tough choice” to enforce the limitation for
for the second time in the past year
“to safeguard the well-being of Clear Lake” following the initial detection of zebra mussels in the lake in November 2023.
Within the restrictions, non-motorized watercraft such as kayaks, canoes, and inflatables may continue to be used in Riding Mountain National Park provided they meet specific criteria. These requirements entail obtaining an annual permit, adhering to designated waterways, undergoing inspections, and following a thorough cleaning procedure.
“We’re happy with Parks Canada’s decision,” said James Plewak, former chief of the Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation, which borders the northwest corner of the lake.
Plewak, who is simultaneously a high-ranking officer within a consortium of seven First Nations with stakes in Riding Mountain National Park, mentioned that it has been a “frustrating voyage” ever since the invasive species were initially detected.
Parks Canada tried to contain zebra mussels by
setting a two-kilometre underwater curtain
at Boat Cove near Wasagaming last summer — but it
dislodged just days after
installation was completed.
Months later,
hundreds of live juvenile zebra mussels
were found attached to docks and other structures near the east end of Clear Lake, indicating their spread was not isolated to the area where they had been originally found.
Early this year, Parks Canada announced the
The full scope of how far zebra mussels have spread remains unclear.
, but eradicating them would require for the entire population to be identified, isolated and contained from the rest of the lake.
Plewak is concerned that if zebra mussels migrate to shallower parts of the lake, they might distribute faster and trickle into outlets that flow into the Little Saskatchewan River and downstream through several communities.
“The decision is based upon erring on the side of caution,” he said.
While Parks Canada has the jurisdiction to issue bans on Clear Lake, First Nations have a treaty right over Riding Mountain National Park, Plewak said.
“We have a different level of responsibility towards the lake,” he said. “Parks Canada made a responsible decision there and the First Nation is in support of it.”
Restrictions threaten to ‘damage’ business
Kelsey Connor, who has managed the Clear Lake Marina and the Martese tour boat operation from Wasagaming in Riding Mountain National Park since 2015, stated that Parks Canada’s choice is raising doubts about the future existence of his enterprise.
“At this moment… I believe our enterprise is doomed,” he said to CBC.
The prohibition caught Connor off guard. He mentioned that Parks Canada had informed him earlier in the season that things would proceed normally at the lake, leading the marina to employ staff for the coming months in anticipation of recovering from the previous year’s limitations.
Connor found out about the decision just one hour prior to the federal agency announcing it publicly on Friday, which came as a total surprise to him.
He stated, ‘We placed our trust in Parks Canada…and as a result, we felt compelled to uphold our side of the agreement by offering certain services to guests.’
We have solely been positive participants in the battle against zebra mussels.
Connor stated that the boats from his marina do not pose a threat for introducing invasive species. He argued that operating them at the level his firm does might actually assist in tackling this issue.
I’m unsure why this is occurring… It’s difficult to accept that this isn’t permanent since we cannot run a business under these conditions.
Parks Canada has announced that they will be conducting extensive research this year to assess how motorized watercraft impact the ecological, socioeconomic, and cultural aspects of Clear Lake.
However, the federal agency mentioned that their strategy involves striking a balance between safeguarding all aquatic areas within Riding Mountain National Park and allowing lake users to restart activities they enjoyed before previous restrictions on watercrafts were put in place.
Kyle Bazylo, a member of the Clear Lake Cabin Owners’ Association, stated that the government could have potentially prevented the spread of zebra mussels when they were initially discovered in the lake. However, he believes that “they failed from day one.”
Now there is little to no possibility of slowing it down, he said, and given how scattered zebra mussels are already on the lake, he thought Parks Canada should “admit defeat” and learn how to live with them.
“I don’t know why they’re playing this game,” he said. “The lack of guidance and management … is frustrating.”
Bazylo said the watercraft ban is “a terrible decision” that he believes could also affect property values if people’s worries lead them to sell off their cottages.
“Funds were squandered due to bad decisions, and there’s no one held responsible; accountability must be established,” he stated.
