Today at city hall, the Riding Mountain UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve is in Dauphin for a stewardship water day.
Zebra mussels and blue-green algae bloom are the two major threats to water in the biosphere reserve and that’s the focus of the meeting at city hall.
Jim Irwin, chair of the Riding Mountain UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, says the Red River, Lake Winnipeg, and Cedar Lake are under the threat of zebra mussels.
Some of the lakes in the area have heavy algae blooms as well. The toxic blue-green algae bloom is the concern.
The problem with these invasive species is how easily they can spread unknowingly. Part of the discussion today is how people and groups can take action to keep the waters clean.
Making the public aware of the two threats goes a long way to stop the transfer of the invasive species.
In Manitoba, it is the law that you have to dry out watercraft and water-related equipment so the veligers, which are zebra mussel larva, die. That law is to clean, drain, dry and dispose of any unwanted bait and worms. By law, if you are coming out of contaminated or invaded areas you have to decontaminate.
