WATER BOARD requests meeting with senior levels of government

Kelowna, B.C. – With public support growing for action from senior levels of government on invasive mussels, and with word that Alberta now has inspection stations, the Okanagan Basin Water Board is asking senior levels of government “what’s taking so long?”

“We have been sounding the alarm for two years now, warning of the threat invasive zebra and quagga mussels pose to the Okanagan and elsewhere,” said Doug Findlater, OBWB Chair. “Our research indicates the cost could be more than $43 million a year to just manage this problem. And while we have launched our Don’t Move a Mussel campaign to raise awareness, and promoted the outreach of others and the ‘Clean, Drain, Dry’ message, we need concrete action.  The only organizations in a position to do this effectively are the provincial and federal government.”

Findlater noted that fellow directors expressed concern at this week’s board meeting and voted to take further action to pressure senior governments to act. In particular, they were responding to a report on a board initiative that encourages residents to visit www.DontMoveAMussel.caand “Speak Out” – sending a letter to their MLA and MP, urging action on invasive mussels.  Speak Out was created in response to calls from the public for a way to push senior levels of government to act.  While public response has been positive, and local electeds have taken notice, there’s still no concrete movement on the file.