Minnedosa Tribune
BARLEY RICHNESS
DARRELL NESBITT/MINNEDOSA TRIBUNE
A thriving farming community welcomed the week of summer-like temperatures to close out September, as combines hummed and grain trucks rolled across the rural landscape including in the Minnedosa area. Westhope Farm Ltd. focused on putting a field of barley into storage grain bins on Wednesday, Sept. 25, adjacent to Highway 16 west of town.
More zebra mussels found in Clear Lake
Parks Canada says that six living juvenile zebra mussels have been discovered on the north shore of Clear Lake
Minnedosa Tribune
Parks Canada staff have discovered six living juvenile zebra mussels on the north shore of Clear Lake in Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP). Found on Sept. 19 and 20, these invasive mussels have been confirmed by officials from Parks Canada, Fisheries and
Oceans Canada, and the Province of Manitoba’s aquatic invasive species program.
Following this finding, Parks Canada is looking into possible ways to get rid of these mussels, consulting with experts to take the best approach.
At the present, the rules for boat management at Clear Lake will continue, and Boat Cove will remain
It was definitely the horses that inspired me to want to take over and be more involved with the farm and the breeding program that my dad, grandfather, and great-grandfather worked on.”
closed to the public until further notice. Updates will be shared as new information comes in.
The presence of zebra mussels is concerning for Manitoba, as they cost taxpayers around $10 million each year. This expense covers efforts to protect important freshwater systems, like drinking water supplies and hydroelectric dams. The impact on fisheries and tour-
ism regionally may mean that the total costs are even higher.
Protecting natural areas is vital, and this incident highlights the ongoing challenge posed by invasive species. Residents and visitors are urged to stay informed and cooperate as authorities work to handle the situation effectively.
It was in January 2023that Fisheries and Oceans Canada informed
Parks Canada of a positive test result for zebra mussel eDNA in a water sample taken at Boat Cove, in Clear Lake. Later that year, on Nov. 10, 2023, Parks Canada officials did a physical search of Boat Cove and a clump of 48 live zebra mussels was found and removed from the water. Before that, zebra mussels had never been found in Clear Lake.
RACHEAL FLINTOFT