The province’s fight against zebra mussels saw crews ramp up the battle against the invasive species May 23.
Zebra mussels can disrupt the food chain, clog pipes and create algae.
“We have an opportunity to strike while the iron is hot with an effective treatment that hopes to either abate or eradicate the population,” said Rob Nedotiafko, provincial coordinator for the zebra mussel treatment project.
Crews were set to put gated curtains into place at Winnipeg Beach Friday morning, but ice on the water delayed the installation.
The project remains on schedule, however, with the curtains set to close off habours.
The curtain is meant to keep liquid potash in the harbour and protect water in the rest of the lake.
The province plans to begin pumping in potash at Winnipeg Beach May 24, which is expected to kill off any mussels by the start of June.
Fishing can continue during the treatments.
Two people will man the gated curtain 24/7 and allow boats to pass.
Three other harbours will get the same treatment.
Commercial fisher Ed Isfeld believes the mussel problem exists beyond the harbours and wonders if the upcoming efforts will be enough.
“They have to try something and we don’t think that they’re just in the harbours. We think that they’re already in the lake,” said Isfeld.
A consulting group working with the province found the treatment successful in an American quarry infested with the zebra mussels.
“The results were 100 per cent effective with no adverse effect to the environment,” said Dan Butts, a consulting engineer with ASI Group.
This will be the first time testing it on a lake. The province expects to sink half a million dollars into the project.
- with a report from Alesia Fieldberg
