As the Okanagan Basin Water Board watches the fall-out of the discovery of invasive mussels in Montana, only a few hours含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 new chairwoman Tracy Gray to B.C.含羞草研究社檚 environment minister, Mary Polak, and copied to Premier Christy Clark,含羞草研究社攚ho is also the MLA for Westside-Kelowna含羞草研究社攁s well as Finance Minister Mike de Jong and others in the government.

含羞草研究社淲e urge you to immediately allocate permanent, sufficient funding for an expanded inspection and decontamination program, starting with this year含羞草研究社檚 provincial budget,含羞草研究社� writes Gray.

含羞草研究社淧revention now will be far more cost-effective than dealing with a wide spread infestation.含羞草研究社�

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

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

含羞草研究社� Adding invasive mussel infestations to a list of specified hazards under B.C.含羞草研究社檚 Emergency Program Management Regulation.

含羞草研究社� Making the province含羞草研究社檚 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.

含羞草研究社� 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.

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

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.

含羞草研究社淚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.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淲e don含羞草研究社檛 want to say 含羞草研究社榃e knew this was a concern and we should have done more,含羞草研究社� said Gray. 含羞草研究社淲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.含羞草研究社�

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含羞草研究社檛 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 含羞草研究社渉ave the talk含羞草研究社� about invasive mussels with their friends and family returning from areas with existing infestations.

含羞草研究社淚f they含羞草研究社檙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,含羞草研究社� added Gray.含羞草研究社�

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