Boaters launching from Sunbreaker Cove next Friday, Aug. 1, will have a chance to learn more about the danger of invasive species to Sylvan Lake.
Aquatic invasive species (AIS) such as Eurasian Watermilfoil, Quagga or Zebra Mussels, which, if introduced to Alberta lakes, can cause extreme damage, will be the target of an education blitz.
Lacombe County and Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (AESRD) are hosting the event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The public is invited to join us in learning how AIS threaten Alberta lakes, and what we can all do to prevent the spread of them, said Cajun Paradis, the county’s acting environmental coordinator, in a media release from the county.
Quagga or Zebra Mussels can live out of water for 30 days, and reproduce one million eggs every year and are almost impossible to eradicate. If introduced they can cause millions of dollars in damage to aquatic ecosystems as well as water operated infrastructure.
The two species can be spread quickly by water users with unclean equipment. It is recommended that every time you remove your boat from the water, you remember to “clean, drain and dry” your watercraft and equipment in order to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
For more information on the event or aquatic invasive species, contact Lacombe Count’s acting environmental coordinator, Cajun Paradis, at 403-782-6601.
To report something suspicious on your or someone else’s boat or equipment, call toll free: 1-855-336-2628.