Invasive mussels were bound for Okanagan Lake

March 19, 2014

Infotel – March 19, 2014

KELOWNA – An invasive mussel nearly made an unwanted debut in the Okanagan last week.

The Okanagan Basin Water Board issued a release Wednesday afternoon saying what looked to be zebra and/or quagga mussels were found Mar. 12 on a large pleasure craft boat crossing the Osoyoos border from the U.S.

According to the release, a Canada Customs official notified the B.C. Conservation Service, which brought in a decontamination unit to clean the vessel the following day.

The Canadian Border Services Agency currently has no legislative authority to refuse entry, however, the commercial transporter was co-operative.

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