Aquatic invasive species (AIS), such as zebra mussels, are known to occur in the Red River and its tributaries. As such the Red River is designated as part of the Central AIS Control Zone.
To prevent the spread of AIS, provincial regulations require water users to follow the general cleaning provisions (clean, drain, dry) in addition to decontaminating, to ensure AIS are killed and removed before watercraft (e.g., canoes, kayaks, SUPs) and water-related equipment (e.g., paddles, PFDs, ropes ) are placed in a different water body or control zone. For more details, please refer to the Manitoba Aquatic Invasive Species website.
AIS such as zebra mussels can disrupt Manitoba’s natural aquatic ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, impair water-infrastructure and ruin recreational opportunities. Larval zebra mussels are microscopic and can be moved in small amounts of water unknowingly in small amounts of water.
🚫 Don’t give invasive species a free ride to a new water body.
✅ Take action. Before leaving any body of water – including when portaging – always:
🧹CLEAN: i.e., remove plants, algae and debris from watercraft and gear.
💦DRAIN: all water. Keep drain plugs out when transporting watercraft over land.
🧽DRY: all gear completely before placing into another waterbody.
When leaving an AIS Control Zone, in addition to the steps above, you need to:
DECONTAMINATE: watercraft and gear before placing them into another water body or control zone.
For more information or operating times of the provincial watercraft inspection program, click here.