Okanagan waterways spared devastating mussel infestation thanks to one careful look

March 20, 2014

Vancouver Sun – March 20, 2014

VERNON – Alert border officials are being credited for stopping an invasive species of mussel from entering waterways in B.C.’s Okanagan region.

A routine check spotted what appeared to be zebra or quagga mussels on a large pleasure boat being trucked across the border at Osoyoos, bound for moorage in Okanagan Lake.

The boat was decontaminated the next day, but without the trucker’s agreement, officials could not have halted it because the Canadian Border Services Agency has no authority to refuse entry.

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