As the Okanagan Basin Water Board watches the fall-out of the discovery of invasive mussels in Montana, only a few hours害羞草研究所� drive from the B.C. border, and with news that the B.C. government is getting ready to announce its latest budget, the OBWB is calling on the province to include proper mussel prevention funding.

The call comes in a letter from new OBWB害羞草研究所檚 new chairwoman Tracy Gray to B.C.害羞草研究所檚 environment minister, Mary Polak, and copied to Premier Christy Clark,害羞草研究所攚ho is also the MLA for Westside-Kelowna害羞草研究所攁s well as Finance Minister Mike de Jong and others in the government.

害羞草研究所淲e urge you to immediately allocate permanent, sufficient funding for an expanded inspection and decontamination program, starting with this year害羞草研究所檚 provincial budget,害羞草研究所� writes Gray.

害羞草研究所淧revention now will be far more cost-effective than dealing with a wide spread infestation.害羞草研究所�

In addition to funding, the letter provides a number of other recommendations, including:

害羞草研究所� Legislative changes to require all watercraft entering B.C. to report to an inspection station, prior to launching in provincial waters;

害羞草研究所� Adding invasive mussel infestations to a list of specified hazards under B.C.害羞草研究所檚 Emergency Program Management Regulation.

害羞草研究所� Making the province害羞草研究所檚 Early Detection Rapid Response Plan be recognized as a multi-agency hazard plan under Emergency Management B.C., ensuring appropriate supports are available to immediately contain infested water bodies.

害羞草研究所� That B.C. enhance its monitoring network to ensure any infestation is identified as soon as possible, allowing the best chance of immediately quarantining a water body and preventing further spread.

害羞草研究所淭he zebra and quagga mussel issue is a top priority for me and the rest of the water board,害羞草研究所� said Gray. 害羞草研究所� And I intend to passionately advocate with senior government on this file, and keep the pressure on.害羞草研究所�

Gray was elected chairwoman of the OBWB Feb. 7, replacing West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater, who decided not seek another term.

Findlater was a strong advocate for a stronger response to fighting the threat of invasive mussels and said last week that despite stepping away from leading the OBWB, remains so.

Gray said the board needs assurances of ongoing funding for mussel prevention from the province, and defence should an infestation occur.

害羞草研究所淚n 2016, the eight provincial inspection stations were funded through BC Hydro, FortisBC, Columbia Power and Columbia Basin Trust. Although the OBWB welcomed news of this funding, it has consistently recommended an ongoing core funding model to ensure stability of the mussel defence program.害羞草研究所�

She said time is not on Okanagan Lake害羞草研究所檚 side, as all it takes is one infested watercraft to put local drinking water, fisheries, economy, beaches and more, at risk.

害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 want to say 害羞草研究所榃e knew this was a concern and we should have done more,害羞草研究所� said Gray. 害羞草研究所淲e need to do as much as possible now, so our kids and grandkids have the same opportunity to walk on our beaches in bare feet like we have.害羞草研究所�

The OBWB sent a similar letter to the federal government in December, urging funding and supports to address the invasive mussel issue.

Gray said the board and its Okanagan WaterWise program remain committed to doing its part with its Don害羞草研究所檛 Move A Mussel campaign.

An extensive 2013 study conducted for the OBWB estimated that zebra or quagga mussels could cost at least $43 million each year to the Okanagan alone, in lost revenue, added maintenance of aquatic infrastructure and irreparable ecological damage.

The Pacific Northwest economic region, made up of provincial and state government representatives in the Pacific Northwest, and with a mission to increase economic well-being and quality of life for all citizens in the region, has estimated a mussel infestation at $500 million a year to the Pacific NW.

The board is also urging locals to 害羞草研究所渉ave the talk害羞草研究所� about invasive mussels with their friends and family returning from areas with existing infestations.

害羞草研究所淚f they害羞草研究所檙e coming back from an area that is mussel-infested, they should be following the Clean-Drain-Dry protocol (for all water cast and equipment used in the water) to help protect our waters,害羞草研究所� added Gray.害羞草研究所�

For more information on the mussels, risks to the Okanagan, how to 害羞草研究所榟ave the talk,害羞草研究所� Clean-Drain-Dry and other prevention tips, go to DontMoveAMussel.ca.