Responsibility
Zebra Mussels
A threat to Saskatchewan's waterways
Zebra mussels have already caused millions of dollars in damage in the
northern United States and throughout Ontario's Great Lakes.
Since they originate in Europe, zebra mussels have few natural predators here – none that can keep up with their rapid rate of reproduction. The best way to protect our watersheds from the damage they can cause is to prevent them from invading our lakes and rivers.
We need your help to prevent their spread to our provincial waterways.
What damage can zebra mussels cause?
Though small in size – about the size of a thumbnail – zebra
mussels can cause huge problems in our provincial lakes and rivers:
They can permanently alter lake ecosystems and food chains, sometimes leading to a decline in sport fish stocks.
They can clog intake pipes used to supply water to cottages, cities and major industries.
Blocked pipes can seriously damage drinking water systems and electrical generating facilities. Retrofitting systems to control zebra mussel growth could cost taxpayers and industry millions of dollars.
How will zebra mussels affect you – and your boat?
Zebra mussels can ruin your boat engine by blocking the cooling system, causing
your engine to overheat. They can jam steering components, and if they attach
to the bottom of your boat the drag will increase and cause you to burn more
fuel. You may also have to scrape and paint the bottom of your boat more frequently.
How would zebra mussels get here?
The primary way zebra mussels travel between sites is by attaching themselves
to the underside of a boat or boat trailer, or by hitching a ride in bilge
water and live wells. Removing your boat from the water may not kill zebra
mussels - in humid conditions they can live up to 10 days out of water.
Zebra mussels can also remain in a larval stage in your boat's cooling
system until you re-start your boat in a different water body.
What can I do to prevent the spread of zebra mussels?
Even if zebra mussels aren't obvious, please be sure to take the following
preventative actions each time you move your boat to a new lake or river:
Wash the hull of your boat with hot, soapy water.
Drain all water from your boat, live well, bilge and bait buckets before you leave. Once you return home, wash and rinse with hot, soapy water.
Flush your engine with hot water.
Wash your trailer with hot, soapy water, then rinse with hot water.
Dispose of all live bait, other than earthworms or night crawlers, in a proper disposal site before entering Saskatchewan.
Leave your boat out in hot, dry weather for three to five days, then scrape off any remaining rough spots on the hull.
Be sure to carry out these activities on dry land and away from any water body.
The zebra mussel could be a costly invader to the province of Saskatchewan, but we can each do our part to prevent its spread. By working together, we can help to maintain the health of our provincial waterways and do our best to keep Saskatchewan zebra mussel-free.
