Conservation K-9 Hilo and his handler Cindy Sawchuck inspect a watercraft. Photo Submitted by the Alberta government.
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Alberta’s budget aims to invest $18 million to continue to keep Alberta’s waterways free of invasive species.
As it stands, said the province, Alberta is currently free of zebra mussels, quagga mussels and other aquatic invasive species, but with more reports from provinces and states across the continent coming in, Alberta’s government is not taking this fact for granted.
“If passed, budget 2025 will invest $18.2 million over five years to expand Alberta’s aquatic invasive species inspection, detection and rapid response programs,” said the province. “By defending water bodies, ecosystems and infrastructure, Alberta’s government is protecting jobs, local economies and recreational opportunities across the province.”
This continues on work started last year with the launching of the Provincial Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force, expansion of inspection stations and informational campaigns stressing the importance of proper boat drainage.
This new funding increases Alberta’s border protections for 2025. It will expand the existing program by increasing the number of inspection stations to 11, tripling the number of K-9 conservation dog and handler teams, and optimizing decontamination stations in Lethbridge and Calgary, said the province.
“Our province is doing more to fight these invasive species than anywhere else in Canada. These additional inspection stations and K-9 inspection dogs will help us step up protections across Alberta and we will be announcing even more right before boating season,” said Rebecca Schulz, minister of environment and protected areas.
The province would also also fund a dip tank decontamination pilot project and 14 mobile decontamination systems to improve rapid response.
“We must keep Alberta 100 per cent invasive mussel free,” said Grant Hunter, chair of the provincial aquatic invasive species task force and MLA for Taber-Warner. “That’s why, our province will be continuing to step up our fight to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species that threaten our waterways and livelihoods.”
