InfoNews.ca – June 19, 2018
Progress is being made in the fight to keep invasive zebra and quagga mussels out of the Okanagan’s lakes.
Okanagan Basin Water Board spokesperson Corinne Jackson says after years of making the request, the province has agreed to dedicate $1 million annually to fund an inspection program as part of the fight against invasive quagga and zebra mussels.
Another $750,000 has been made available from the Conservation Officer service in 2018-19, in addition to funding from the board’s partners.
The federal government has yet to respond to requests for additional financial support and Jackson says with the boating season underway, the sooner they act they better.
A spokesperson at Kelowna-Lake Country MP Stephen Fuhr’s constituency office said the MP is supportive of the mussel control effort and was working on the issue, but currently unable to comment on the prospect of funding.