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Okanagan Water Board Sends Letter of Support for Bc Proposal to Control Invasive Mussels in 2016

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Okanagan Water Board Sends Letter of Support for Bc Proposal to Control Invasive Mussels in 2016 February 12, 2016 NEWS RELEASE OKANAGAN WATER BOARD SENDS LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR BC PROPOSAL TO CONTROL INVASIVE MUSSELS IN 2016 Kelowna, B.C. – The Okanagan Basin Water Board has sent a letter to the province supporting their staff’s recommendation for eight full-time inspection stations set up at key crossings for the 2016 boating season, helping prevent the spread of invasive zebra and quagga mussels into B.C. The stations recommended would include five along the B.C.-Alberta border and three along the B.C.- Washington border. We are pleased to support this proposal, noting that it is consistent with what the Water Board has been requesting since 2012. In our letter to B.C. Environment Min. Mary Polak and Finance Min. Mike de Jong, we urge that the proposal be effectively funded and staffed. Min. de Jong is expected to deliver the budget speech in the House on Feb. 16 and we look forward to some good news. Please find the letter attached below. As well as slides of B.C. inspection results and a map of proposed inspection station locations for 2016. Note that 36% of high risk boat traffic in 2015 was headed to the Okanagan. For more information on the mussels, and the risks and expected impacts to the Okanagan, please visit www.DontMoveAMussel.ca. -30- MEDIA CONTACT: Corinne Jackson, OBWB – Communications Director Office: 250-469-6271 Mobile: 250-718-7249 E-mail: [email protected] 1450 KLO Road, Kelowna, BC V1W 3Z4 P 250. 4 69.6 27 0 F 250.7 62.7 011 www.obwb.ca Hon. Michael de Jong, Minister of Finance Room 153, Parliament Buildings Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4 Hon. Mary Polak, Minister of Environment Room 112, Parliament Buildings Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4 February 12, 2016 Re: Support for Provincial plan to prevent the spread of invasive mussels into British Columbia Dear Minister de Jong and Minister Polak, The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) wishes to express strong support for the Ministry of Environment’s proposed plan as presented at the Mussel Prevention Leadership Forum,1 December 18, 2015, to establish eight full-time, mandatory inspection stations to prevent the spread of invasive mussels into B.C. We are pleased to see that the plan builds on information gathered throughout the 2015 boating season by the B.C. Conservation Officer’s service and Ministry of Environment. The establishment of these stations would bring B.C.’s inspection regime on par with the most effective and efficient systems in North America, and would meet obligations to protect our own waters, while supporting the protection of waters in neighboring jurisdictions throughout the Pacific Northwest. The province has conservatively estimated that an infestation of invasive mussels could cost B.C. $43 million per year. A recent estimate from the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) suggests it could cost over $500 million per year to the economy of the Pacific Northwest. The resources required to carry out the 2016 inspection plan are relatively modest when compared to the cost of an infestation. Since 2012, the OBWB has been a vocal advocate of efforts to prevent invasive mussels, and we acknowledge the significant actions of both the federal and provincial governments: improving legislation; developing prevention and detection plans; educating and providing outreach to the public; and creating partnerships to enhance capacity. Implementing the province’s 2016 inspection plan, with an ongoing commitment for resources is a crucial step in protecting provincial water and preventing significant costs in the future. The OBWB will continue to support provincial mussel prevention efforts through public outreach and 1 The Mussel Prevention Leadership Forum was co-hosted by the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region and the Invasive Species Council of BC in Vancouver. 1 education, including our Don’t Move A Mussel initiative, and through collaboration with regional groups such as the Invasive Species Council of B.C. and PNWER’s Invasive Species Working Group. We congratulate the Ministry of Environment for developing a strong, strategic and efficient plan, based on deliberate information gathering, and a scientific understanding of the invasive threat. We urge you to fully fund this plan and provide all necessary resources (including financial and staffing) to make it successful this year and into the future. We have also called on the federal government to provide funding and resources to the province to support these efforts, recognizing that their recent commitment to infrastructure improvement faces a significant challenge should invasive mussels be introduced to hydro, agricultural and water supply systems in B.C. Every year B.C. commits to programs that keep us free of invasive mussels is an investment in the economy and environment of our province. Sincerely, Doug Findlater, Chair Okanagan Basin Water Board CC: Okanagan MPs: Stephen Fuhr, Dan Albas, Mel Arnold, Richard Cannings; Okanagan MLAs: Hon. Christy Clark, Hon. Steve Thomson, Hon. Norm Letnick, Eric Foster, Dan Ashton, Linda Larson, Jackie Tegart, Greg Kyllo; Regional District Chairs for North Okanagan, Central Okanagan, and Okanagan-Similkameen Regional Districts; Okanagan Municipalities: Enderby, Armstrong, Spallumcheen, Vernon, Coldstream, Lake Country, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland, Summerland, Penticton, Oliver, Osoyoos; Chiefs Executive Council, Okanagan Nation Alliance; Matt Morrison, Chief Executive Officer, Pacific NorthWest Economic Region; Gail Wallin, Executive Director, Invasive Species Council of B.C. 2 BC’s 2015 Invasive Mussel Pilot ! A total of 4,350 watercraft were inspected by 6 inspection crews who interacted with over 10,000 people to promote CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY. ! 70 watercraft were identified as coming from a zebra/quagga mussel infested province or state, 15 were confirmed to have invasive mussels or larvae and 6 were issued a 30-day quarantine order. 2015 Data: Source of High Risk Watercraft Other, 17% Ontario, 33% Texas, 3% Nevada, 3% Florida, 4% Colorado, 4% California, 7% Quebec, 3% Manitoba, 26% ** Other: Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming. 2015 Data: Destination of High Risk Watercraft Other Jurisdiction 21% Okanagan 36% Peace 1% Cariboo 3% Thompson-Nicola 4% West Kootenay 4% East Kootenay 7% Vancouver Island Lower Mainland 12% 12% 9 * Other jurisdictions: Alberta, Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and Washington Commercially Hauled Watercraft 10 9 8 8 7 7 6 5 4 3 Mussel Infested Watercraft Watercraft Mussel Infested 2 1 0 Commercial Recreational Boater Traffic Locations Proposed Inspection Stations 2016.
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