Inspectors decontaminate a boat for invasive species at an inspection station in Alberta (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By Justin Goulet

Alberta government taking steps to protect waterways from invasive species

Mar 28, 2024 | 9:56 AM

The Government of Alberta is being proactive in combatting invasive aquatic species.

Officials say that as it stands, the province is 100 per cent free of zebra and quagga mussels. However, increased detection in both Idaho and Manitoba last year is upping the risk of invasive mussels being introduced into Alberta.

The government says it is increasing the amount of watercraft inspection stations, adding more dedicated watercraft inspectors and setting up a new task force on aquatic invasive species.

Additionally, the provincial government is calling on the federal government to conduct mandatory inspection at the border to the United States.

“These invasive species pose a real and costly threat to other species living in our lakes and rivers, as well as to the water and irrigation infrastructure that we depend on for our economy and for drought and flood protection. We are stepping up to defend Alberta’s borders from these dangerous invasive species,” says Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas.

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The announced task force will be led by Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter.

The group will work with partners to discuss important topics, such as how to improve border protections, ways to strengthen Alberta’s rules and programs and whether stronger penalties, restrictions or other approaches are necessary.

“Alberta cannot let down its guard. With invasive mussels and other species rising in nearby provinces and states, we must increase our inspection and detection programs,” says Hunter.

“By improving protections today, we can protect Alberta from the massive impacts that these invasive species can have on our province.”

Aquatic invasive species like zebra and quagga mussels can be brought into the province by boats and other watercraft moving across borders. Officials say if introduced in Alberta, mussels could harm the ecosystem and cost over $75 million annually in damages to irrigation infrastructure.

The Alberta government is investing $2.5 million to boost watercraft inspection and decontamination. This year, the number of inspection stations will go up from five to seven. A new roving inspection crew will criss-cross Alberta to follow-up on notices from Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and increase inspections at locations and events with higher traffic.

Officials say the goal is to add four more stations next year.

K-9 INSPECTION UNIT

The Alberta government plans to bring in an additional dog and handler team to the invasive species K-9 inspection unit. Alberta Environment and Protected Areas will invest $400,000 to expand its K-9 unit to three dog and handler teams. They will work with the team in Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation on high-priority projects like invasive species detection.

“These additional investments are great news for our watersheds, and will help protect the environment and economy from these serious threats on our doorstep. Aquatic invaders would seriously damage our natural ecosystems and these proactive steps will help prevent them from reaching Alberta,” says Shannon Frank, executive director of the Oldman Watershed Council.

The provincial government adds that even though it is taking preventative measures, international border control is a federal portfolio.

On March 25, Minister Rebecca Schulz wrote to the federal Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Diane Lebouthillier, requesting that CBSA conduct mandatory inspections and decontaminations on all watercraft entering the country from the United States.