Clear Lake tour boat operator wants federal compensation after efforts to fight zebra mussels ground business

A marina and tour vessel operator in western Manitoba is calling for federal compensationafter his business was halted as part ofefforts toprevent the spread of zebra mussels in Clear Lake.

Kelsey Connor has been operating Clear Lake Marina and the Martese tour boat out of Wasagaming, located in Riding Mountain National Park, since 2015.

In May,Parks Canada bannedwatercraft on Clear Lake for thesummer in light of what it said was a "likely invasion" of zebra mussels, after a live clump of the invasive species wasremoved from thelake last November.

TheMartese was initially exempt from the boat ban.

But after Parks Canada said more evidence of zebra mussels was found in July, including a positive zebra mussel environmental DNA sample near the marina the Martese operates out of, the agencypaused the tour vessel's operations.

The efforts to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species are essential, said Connor, but they'vecome at a cost to his business and he thinks Parks Canada should provide compensation.

Without help, he worries the marina and Martesewon'tstay afloat.

"We want to be part of the long-term solution for this place and try to keep Clear Lake as amazing and as pristine as it is," Connor said.

"Butbecause of the very same thing that we're trying to fight, we might not make it through, which is really, really upsetting."

Connor told CBC he couldn't say how much revenue the business lost due to zebra musselmitigation efforts, but he'sspent September reaching out to anyone who could offer a life raft, including the provincial and federal governments.

He said on Sept. 6, he contactedthe park's superintendent about the financial impacts of the mitigation efforts but was told by Parks Canadait has no agreement or responsibility for the marina and the Martese.

In a letter dated Sept. 9 to federal Environment MinisterSteven Guilbeault, Connor asked that Parks Canada be held accountable forthe mitigation efforts that he said aredevastatingthe viability of his businesses.

CBC News requested comment from Parks Canada, but the federal agency did not provide comment by deadline.

Typically, the Marina and tour boat would employ around 25 staff each summer, said Connor.This year, only 10 staff members were called in because of the uncertainty around water access.

To compensate for the boat's grounding, the Martese remained open for drinks on the dock, but that was onlya temporary fix to keep staff paid, said Connor.

Right now, he said he's hesitant to spend any money on maintaining operations because there's no guarantee the boat will be back on thewater again anytime soon.

He thinks better communication is needed from Parks Canada aboutplans for stopping the spread of zebra mussels next summer.

In addition to the watercraft ban, the efforts this year included installingan impermeable curtain in the lake, intendedtocontain zebra mussels to one corner. It was only in place for two days before it was dislodged by winds.

Fear for the future

Kyle Bazylo, a board member with the Clear Lake Cabin Association, says it's been tough getting updates from Parks Canada about the zebra mussels and plans to fight an infestation.

"We're kind of left dumbfounded about what's going to go on," he said. "We were kind of left in the dark."

Some community members fear next summer will bring the sameuncertainty, Bazylo said.

His association would like to see weekly updates from Parks Canada, which isespecially important for planning for businesses like the marina and Martesethat rely on lake access.

"It would be very disappointing to see the marina and the Martese not be part of Clear Lake anymore," Bazylo said. "People know it when they come to Clear Lake."

Connor said he wants to play a role in the long-term future of Clear Lake, but that depends on whether hisbusinesses survive.

"I've been telling the park for a very long time that I would like to do this for the foreseeable future," Connor said. But "short term, we don't have any security."