The Ministry of Environment’s aquatic invasive species program (AIS) has received a sizeable donation from SaskPower to continue it's work in keeping invasive species out of Saskatchewan waters.
The crown corporation has pledged $25,000 to the program, marking the second year in a row that SaskPower has supported the initiative financially.
“The threat of invasive species to aquatic ecosystems and infrastructure requires a coordinated effort to manage effectively,” said Environment Minister Dustin Duncan in a press release. “SaskPower remains an important and much-appreciated partner in AIS prevention in Saskatchewan.”
The provincial AIS program is focused on public education to help aid in prevention measures, including the Clean, Drain, Dry boat campaign, roadside boat inspections, decontaminations, and regular monitoring of waterbodies.
One of the top priorities of the program currently is preventing zebra and quagga mussels from reaching Saskatchewan waters. Over 120 lakes in the province are under regular monitoring for these species, and none have been identified in Saskatchewan yet this year.
If invasive species like mussels are able to establish themselves in a waterbody, they can be almost impossible to eliminate and can potentially cause serious damage to the existing habitat, said the ministry’s press release.
SaskPower’s financial support will help expand the AIS program’s existing inspection program for boats, which currently operates eight mobile decontamination units used to inspect watercraft coming into the province.
The inspection unit recently intercepted a boat travelling from Manitoba that was contaminated with zebra mussels in July, cleaning and clearing the watercraft before it entered Saskatchewan and highlighting the importance of the AIS program.
