Boat ban could have multimillion-dollar impact at Clear Lake, says local business owner

Riding Mountain National Park businesses are mulling the impacts a potential ban of watercraft on Clear Lake could have on tourism this summer.

A letter from Parks Canada to Riding Mountain National Park business ownersearlier this year, which was obtained by CBC, said the federal agency is considering the possibility of closing Clear Lake to all watercraft to prevent the spread of invasive zebra mussels.

Parks Canada told CBC this week that"no decisions about the management of the lake have been made at this time," and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is urging the agency not to ban boats in the western Manitoba national park.

But Karly McRae, president of Lakehouse Properties, said businesses are already starting to feel the economic impact of a possible ban.

Her Riding Mountain hotel properties already have fewer bookings than usual.

"The uncertainty around it is already causing people to cancel their cottage builds. Local contractors in the area are already suffering because people are afraid that they're not going to be able to kayak on the lake," said McRae, who is also president of theClear Lake Country Destination Enrichment Organization.

If the ban does come into effect,it will likely have a multimillion-dollar economic impact, McRae said. She wants to seean economic impact assessment to understand what a ban could meanto tourism.

A Parks Canada spokesperson said the agency has engaged in broad consultation thatincludedFirst Nationleaders, other levels of government, representatives from the tourism industry and other businesses, and people who use the lake.

But McRae said she's disappointedParks Canada has not engaged in a full public consultation, and feels people need more information about what is being considered to stop the spread of zebra mussels.

The letter sent to business owners, dated Jan. 26, 2024, lists two other potential options for the lake's use. One wouldprovide an exemption for watercraft that do not leave the lake for any period of time.

The other option would allow the use of self-propelled vessels like canoes, or closed floatation equipment like paddleboards and catamarans.

Parks Canada officials found live zebra mussels in Clear Lakelast November. Water sample tests conducted in January and February came up negative for zebra musselenvironmental DNA, but Parks Canada'swebsite saysthe invasive species could still be present in the lake.

Results from more recent testing are expected soon, a Parks Canada spokesperson said this week.

Devastating to tourism

Kinew said earlier this week that Clear Lake is an important summertime destination for the province, and his government is "making the case to [Parks Canada] to hold off and to keep Clear Lake open."

But ina letter to the premier obtained by CBC, Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation Chief Dwayne Blackbird said he's disappointed Kinew advocatedto keep Clear Lake open to watercraft without talking to him.

The First Nation, which is near Clear Lake and is part of a coalition of First Nations with interest in Riding Mountain, has been in talks with Parks Canada about zebra mussels, the letter said.

"We soundly asserted that the health and ecological integrity of Clear Lake is our highest priority," Blackbird said.

"Sadly, other First Nations of the coalition who do not have a direct interest in the lake have come out in favour of tourism over ecological protection of the lake."

But McRaeis grateful the province is taking the potential ban seriously, saying that shows the governmentunderstands how critical the lake is for tourism, and the dangerous precedent a bancould set for other lakes.

Businesses want Parks Canada to stick with protection measures in place, including boat tagging, more enforcement and a public educationcampaign, she said.

Ashley Smith, whois in her first year of operating Turtle Village which rents "turtle shell" cabins and ice fishing huts in Riding Mountain National Parkis also happy the province is pushing to keep the lake open to boats.

Right now she's in the process of adding two more accommodation unitsto Turtle Village, butfears they won't be needed if tourism drops.

"It's going to hit us pretty hard," Smith said. "Will I be here next year? How can I sustain myself if this is going to impact visitors coming?"

Locals react

Longtime Clear Lake resident John Lorenowiczsaid the idea of closing the lake to boats "scares everybody."

There's confusion around what's going to happen, and Parks Canadaneeds to improve communication so people better understand the situation, he said.

Shannon Cameron, who often visits Clear Lake, has also been closely following the situation.Her family owns a boat, so they want to know what's going to happen.

But she thinks something needs to be done about zebra mussels.

She grew up in Ontario, where many lakes had infestations. She said she remembers jumping in the water, only to emerge with her feet cut up by the invasive species.

She doesn't want that to happen to her young son.

"Sometimes short-term difficulties can be long-term happiness," Cameron said. "Missing a summer or twomight mean that for the future, he's able to use it for his whole life."