Splash mob on Kal Lake to raise awareness about invasive mussels | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
Subscribe

Would you like to subscribe to our newsletter?

Current Conditions Mostly Cloudy  5.3°C

Vernon News

Splash mob on Kal Lake to raise awareness about invasive mussels

A boat propeller encrusted with quagga mussels.
Image Credit: Contributed/US National Parks Service

VERNON - A group of people trying to keep invasive mussels out of local lakes plan to make a big splash later this month.

A Splash Mob is being organized on Kalamalka Lake to make a statement about the importance of protecting fresh water systems, organizer Brynne Morrice says. Participants on everything from boats to floaties will form a gigantic circle on the lake, he says.

“Specifically, what we’re concerned about is invasive zebra and quagga mussels,” Morrice says. “Things are being done to stop them but it’s still not quite enough.”

A filmmaker born and raised in Vernon, Morrice released a short documentary about the mussel threat last year. He's been calling on the provincial government for action to protect B.C. waters. 

The provincial government announced $2 million for eight permanent mussel inspection stations in March 2016, five of which are on the B.C.-Alberta border, and three along the B.C.-United States border. It’s a good start, according to Morrice, but not enough.

“We’re still not stopping all boats, and until they do, it’s kind of pointless,” Morrice says.

The concern is that invasive zebra and quagga mussels will enter B.C. lakes on boats travelling from already infested bodies of water. The mussels reproduce rapidly and can soon encrust water intakes and dams, and leave beaches littered with sharp shells.

“If we want to keep them out for the long term we need more support from provincial and federal governments,” Morrice says.

He's hoping the splash mob gets the government's attention, as well as that of boaters. 

"People moving boats between lakes need to take responsible actions: clean, drain, dry," Morrice says. 

Anyone interested in taking part in the splash mob is asked to meet at Kal Beach around 9:30 a.m. July 24. A photo of the splash mob will be taken at 10 a.m.

“We have a team with a professional drone that will shoot video and photos from above,” Morrice says.

Organizers are asking for donations to help with the costs of putting on the event.

Credit: YouTube

To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston or call 250-309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2016
iNFOnews

  • Popular penticton News
View Site in: Desktop | Mobile