The Riverbank Discovery Centre is holding their 2nd Annual Paddlefest this weekend where kayak and canoe enthusiasts from across the province will converge on the Assiniboine River at Brandon's Discovery Centre to celebrate this favorite summer sport.
And while the invite is out for folks to bring their watercrafts to the Paddlefest, Executive Director, Dean Hammond reminds boat users to do their due diligence to take care of their watercraft and not spread Aquatic Invasive Species from one waterbody to another.
AIS species such as zebra mussels, the rusty crayfish, and the spiny water flea are three aquatic invasive species on the Province of Manitoba's AIS watch list! However, it's not just critters that can disrupt a healthy ecosystem. The transfer of aquatic plant life can also create troubles for our lakes and rivers, disrupting food sources and potential egg laying havens for fish and other underwater species.
Building a Hub for Paddle Sports at Riverbank
The Discovery Centre is trying to become a paddling center of excellence. And with that they're trying to encourage more paddle sports and events and programming surrounding kayaks and canoes down at Riverbank.
"So, with that comes an onus on us to provide education where necessary," shares Executive Director Dean Hammond. "We've been in close conversation with the Province. They're more than willing to help us out and partner with us on aquatic invasive species initiatives, and we've got a few on the go. But the key thing that we can do here at Riverbank is educate people about proper procedures and protocols for dealing with aquatic invasive species."
Regardless of what water body you've just paddled, at a minimum, the law requires that you clean, drain and dry your boat, says Hammond.
"So essentially as you take it out of the water that you're in, remove any plant material, any mud, any debris and give it essentially a good cleaning, make sure there's no debris on the boat. And that needs to be done before you leave that waterbody," he explains. "And then it needs to be thoroughly dried before you put it in another body of water. So that's at a minimum, even if you're putting your boat in and out of the same body of water all the time."
Riverbank eyes permanent Decontamination Station of their own
Control zones are designated areas where aquatic invasive species (AIS) are known to exist or may spread naturally through water movement. These zones allow for stricter regulations and additional requirements to prevent the spread of AIS within or beyond the area. Watercraft, aircraft, and water-related equipment must undergo enhanced decontamination procedures—beyond the standard clean, drain, dry, and dispose of attached weeds or AIS species —before entering another water body.
Hammond reminds folks that when travelling from a control zone, the process of Clean, Drain and Dry needs to be more extreme.
"Then, of course, protocol gets ratcheted up if you're using your boat on a controlled body of water. So, in Manitoba, there's controlled bodies of water where aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels have absolutely been confirmed. And there's high risk of transporting those zebra mussels to other bodies of water if you move your boat between bodies of water," explains Hammond.
"So, if you're moving your boat from a controlled lake or a controlled body of water, (you can find that list on the Province of Manitoba website), then you have to do a decontamination process with your boat, which involves a hot water wash and there are other methods you can use. But unfortunately, within the province we're limited in where those decontamination sites exist."
This summer the Province of Manitoba provided a mobile decontamination station that visited various lake and river sites to help mitigate the spread of AIS. The Riverbank was able to see the decontamination station in action on their own Discovery Centre grounds - and that got them thinking.
"We had a portable one here at Riverbank over the summer over a weekend and we're actually looking at how we could potentially become a permanent decontamination site so that we'd have facilities available throughout all of the summer to decontaminate boats if necessary," states Hammond.
Clean, Drain, Dry: The Golden Rule of watercraft stewardship
"So yes, unfortunately this is a situation that puts more onus on boaters and paddle sports people to do their due diligence to make sure that we're not moving aquatic invasive species, but unfortunately it's just a necessary evil that must be done," he adds.
"It starts with awareness and understanding of the situation," continues Hammond, "and you know, luckily for paddle sport users, a kayak or a canoe is a much easier watercraft to handle and look after regarding AIS than you know, a power boat or a bigger boat for the most part. I mean the key thing is knowing which water bodies of water you're using your boat in and whether it's controlled body of water or not."
"And then of course the clean, drain and dry just has to become part of what you're doing as you're doing your water sports adventures."
The uncertainty of the unknown and the threat of infecting an otherwise healthy lake or river, lies when boaters travel from a waterbody and they might be carrying AIS that hasn't yet been determined or found yet in that water body.
The rule of thumb, Clean, Drain and Dry is the key for every boat user every time they leave a body of water, says Hammond.
Six control zones have been designated under the provincial AIS regulation.
Central Control Zone consists of the:
- Red River from the United States border to its entry in to Lake Winnipeg;
- Lake Winnipeg;
- the portion of the Winnipeg River from Pine Falls generating station to its entry into Lake Winnipeg;
- the portion of the Saskatchewan River from the Grand Rapids generating station to its entry into Lake Winnipeg; and
- the portion of each tributary that flows into these water bodies from the mouth up to the first impassible barrier.
This zone prevents the introduction and controls the spread of zebra mussels and spiny waterflea.
Nelson River Control Zone consists of the:
- Nelson River from Lake Winnipeg to its entry into Hudson Bay, including all lakes, rivers, channels and other water bodies through which the Nelson River passes;
This zone prevents the introduction and controls the spread of zebra mussels. Affected lakes in this control zone can be found HERE.
Whiteshell Control Zone consists of:
- Betula Lake,
- Jessica Lake,
- White Lake;
- the downstream portion of the Whiteshell River from Jessica Lake to Betula Lake, and
- the portion of each tributary that enters these water bodies from the mouth up to the first impassable barrier.
This zone is established to prevent the introduction and control the spread of black algae.
Buffalo Bay Control Zone consists of:
- the portion of Buffalo Bay in the Lake of the Woods that is located in Manitoba, and
- the portion of each tributary that flows into Buffalo Bay from the mouth to the first impassible barrier.
This zone is established to control the spread of spiny waterflea.
Winnipeg River Control Zone consists of:
- portions of the Winnipeg River from the Ontario border to the Pine Falls generating station,
- all the lakes, river and channels and other water bodies through which the Winnipeg River passes; and
- the portion of each tributary that flows into any of these water bodies from the mouth up to the first impassable barrier.
This zone is established to prevent the introduction and control the spread of spiny waterflea.
Saskatchewan River/Cedar Lake Control Zone consists of:
- the portion of the Saskatchewan River from the Saskatchewan border to the Grand Rapids generating station, and
- all the lakes, river and channels and other water bodies through which that portion of the Saskatchewan River passes;
- Cedar Lake;
- South Moose Lake;
- North Moose Lake;
- East Moose Lake;
- Red Earth Lake;
- Driftwood Lake;
- Traders Lake; and
- the portion of each tributary that flows into any of these water bodies from the mouth up to the first impassible barrier.