Invasive mussel information
Waterton Lakes National Park
How invasive mussels spread
Invasive mussels are originally from Europe and were first introduced into North America in the 1980s. The fingernail-sized freshwater mollusk can produce millions of eggs and easily attach itself to objects such as boats. Their numbers can reach tens of thousands per square metre.
Photo: U.S. National Park Service
As prodigious filter feeders, they strip nutrients from the water leaving little or no food for native species. This affects the entire food web, impacting plant and animal life in the region, and altering water chemistry and clarity. They cause extensive economic and visitor experience impacts by clogging water intake structures, dams, water treatment facilities, hydro power facilities, docks, breakwaters, buoys, boats and beaches.
Infestations are permanent and irreversible. No method, technology or natural predator exists to remove invasive mussels once established in a water body.
Aquatic invasives pose a threat to park waters. They can affect native aquatic species, change water quality and change recreational opportunities. The biggest risk of invasive mussel infestation in the park is transfer from motorized and non-motorized watercraft that have been in other infested waters and then once in a watershed, transmission downstream. Prevention is the key to keeping aquatic invasives out of park waters and the watershed.
Beginning April 1, 2024, all non-motorized watercraft from outside of the park are prohibited from entering water bodies in Waterton Lakes National Park. This includes canoes, kayaks, drift boats, paddle boats, hydrofoils, Stand Up Paddleboards and sailboats.
As in previous years, motorized vessels must participate in the park’s 90-day quarantine sealing program before they will be able to enter Upper or Middle Waterton Lake.
Mussels and other aquatic invasive species can inadvertently be moved to a new location attached to boats, equipment, and trailers. Standing or trapped water in boats is a concern because invasive mussels have a microscopic larval stage, allowing them to be present without being visible. Boaters are reminded to Clean, Drain, Dry their watercraft as well, as this is a critical preventative measure.
Invasive mussels are found in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and 34 U.S. states, including Montana.
The threat of invasive mussels to Waterton Lakes National Park
Invasive mussels pose a significant and irreversible threat to the integrity of park waters. An infestation would severely impact the park’s ecology and recreation experiences.
The Waterton Lakes have a unique ecology. In addition to serving as habitat for bull trout (a threatened species), they are the only known lakes to contain the assemblage of lake trout, pygmy whitefish, and rare glacial relic species such as opposum shrimp and deepwater sculpin. The pygmy whitefish found in these lakes are considered a unique population and designated Special Concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Upper Waterton Lake is the only known location of deep water sculpin in Alberta.
In addition, with the headwaters of the South Saskatchewan River Basin located in Waterton Lakes National Park, an invasive mussel infestation in the park could threaten irrigation networks for southern Alberta’s agricultural industry, water infrastructure for numerous jurisdictions including the cities of Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, and other recreational areas.
Parks Canada will continue to manage the integrity of aquatic ecosystems in Waterton Lakes National Park through monitoring, public education, and programs for motorized, non-motorized watercraft and aquatic equipment alike. In addition, staff, outside researchers and contractors must follow best practices and a strict decontamination protocol for gear and equipment when working in park waters.
Protecting park waters is a collective responsibility. Each visitor has an important role to play. Parks Canada relies on the support of all visitors to respect closures to ensure the well-being of aquatic ecosystems.
Invasive mussel FAQs
What are invasive mussels?
Invasive mussels, such as quagga and zebra mussels, are aquatic invasive species introduced from Europe into North America in 1980s. The fingernail-sized freshwater mollusk can produce millions of eggs and easily attach itself to objects such as boats and trailers. Their numbers can reach tens of thousands per square metre. Prodigious filter feeders, they strip nutrients from the water leaving little or no food for native species. This affects the entire food web, impacting the plant and animal life in the region, and altering water chemistry and water clarity. They are permanent and irreversible. No method, technology or natural predator exists to remove invasive mussels once established in a water body. Mussels can inadvertently be moved to a new location attached on boats, equipment and trailers. Standing or trapped water in boats is a concern because invasive mussels have a microscopic larval stage, allowing them to be present without being visible.
Where are invasive mussels found?
Invasive mussels are present in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and 34 U.S. states, including Montana.
Are there invasive mussels in Waterton Lakes?
To date, invasive mussels have not been detected in Waterton Lakes National Park. Parks Canada regularly tests for invasive mussels, following similar protocols as the U.S. National Parks Service in Glacier National Park and Alberta Environment and Parks. This includes visual testing for invasive mussels and active monitoring for invasive mussel veligers (larval stage).
Have invasive mussels been found near Waterton Lakes National Park?
The larvae of these aquatic invasive species (AIS) were detected in the Tiber Reservoir in Montana, which is about a half-day’s drive from Waterton.
The biggest risk of invasive mussel contamination in Waterton is transfer from infested areas in power boats, trailered boats and the trailers. Followed closely behind these are non-motorized craft like kayaks, canoes, row boats and others. Standing or trapped water in these vessels is a concern because invasive mussels have a microscopic larval stage, allowing them to be present without being visible.
What are the impacts of invasive mussel contamination?
Parks Canada is responsible for protecting the lakes, rivers and streams in Waterton Lakes National Park. Invasive mussel contamination poses a significant threat to the park’s unique ecology, by depleting nutrients available for native species, which affects the entire food web, and altering water chemistry and quality.
In addition to the significant ecological effects, invasive mussels are known to cause extensive economic and visitor experience impacts by clogging water intake structures, dams, water treatment facilities, hydro power facilities, docks, breakwaters, buoys, boats and beaches.
The headwaters of the South Saskatchewan River Basin are in Waterton Lakes National Park. The downstream risk of invasive mussel contamination in Waterton threatens: the extensive irrigation network that supports southern Alberta’s significant agricultural industry; infrastructure that supports water supply for multiple jurisdictions, including the cities of Lethbridge and Medicine Hat; and the ecological health for multiple recreational areas.
A 2015 report by the Pacific Northwest Economic Region estimates that the cost of failing to prevent mussel contamination in the region would exceed $500 million (USD) annually. Alberta estimates the potential annual cost of contamination at $75 million.
How else is Parks Canada working to protect Waterton from aquatic invasive species (AIS)?
Parks Canada staff, outside researchers and contractors follow best practices and a stringent decontamination protocol for gear and equipment when working in aquatic environments.
Parks Canada is collaborating closely with the U.S. National Park Service and Alberta Environment and Parks to monitor for invasive mussels and other AIS. Parks Canada also provides information to the public so people can learn about this serious issue and contribute to protecting the park’s aquatic environment.
What can people do to help prevent the spread of invasive mussels or other AIS?
Prevention is essential. Completing a mandatory self-inspection of scuba gear and fishing equipment in park waters, people need to adhere to the Clean, Drain, Dry program, following these steps:
- Clean and inspect watercraft and gear (including fishing and SCUBA equipment)
- Drain buckets, ballasts, bilges, coolers, internal compartments, and other containers that may hold trapped or standing water.
- Dry the watercraft and gear completely between trips and leave compartments open and sponge out standing water.
What is the U.S. National Park Service doing in Glacier NP?
Parks Canada is collaborating closely with the U.S. National Park Service in Glacier National Park to monitor for invasive mussels. For more information on the U.S. National Park Service’s boating requirements and invasive mussel prevention in Glacier National Park, visit: https://www.nps.gov/glac/planyourvisit/ais.htm
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