Clear Lake boating ban makes waves for local businesses

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This article was published 10/05/2024 (539 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Uncertainty about boating activity on Clear Lake this summer was already producing softer bookings at some tourism establishments in Riding Mountain National Park.

Now that Parks Canada announced a 2024 ban on all watercraft on the southwestern Manitoba lake — to prevent the spread of zebra mussels and other invasive species — some tourism operators are worried it will turn even more people away.

Karly McRae, owner of Lakehouse Boutique Hotel and Arrowhead Family Resort, both located in the park’s townsite Wasagaming, said local tourism business owners are supportive of Parks Canada’s efforts to “present and protect” the space.

But the ban being announced Thursday — a week before the May long weekend — is problematic.

“It is impacting business,” McRae said Friday. “We have had more cancellations as a result of uncertainties around this decision. Bookings are softer.”

McRae and the newly formed Tourism Industry Association of Manitoba, in collaboration with Indigenous Tourism Manitoba and local businesses in Riding Mountain National Park, are requesting the federal and provincial governments come up with $1 million to be split between a visitor experience fund and economic relief fund for local businesses.

“Federal and provincial governments have a duty to step up with support programs to ensure businesses can continue to serve visitors to the region,” said John Gunter, TIAM board chair.

Protection of the lake is paramount, the groups say, but the fact there’s still no concrete evidence of infestation makes some wonder if a total ban on boating was necessary.

Zebra mussels were discovered by Parks Canada officials in Clear Lake in November. It said an infestation of the invasive species that can spread by attaching itself to boats could cause irreversible ecological damage to the lake and downstream bodies of water.

While water testing over the winter did not turn up any zebra mussel environmental DNA, Parks Canada said more research and scientific evidence was needed.

McRae referenced the One Boat-One Lake program that was in place last year, that restricted the use of motorized watercraft to Clear Lake. It’s also a program in place in Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta.

“A similar solution for Clear Lake would be a reasonable one for Riding Mountain,” she said Friday.

Meantime, the Clear Lake Country destination enrichment organization has recently retained Probe Research to do a study on the scope of the tourism industry. “It’s critically important that we have Parks Canada’s participation in that,” McRae said.

Jamie Moses, Manitoba minister of economic development, investment, trade and natural resources, recently visited Wasagaming (located some 90 kilometres north of Brandon) to meet with the local chamber of commerce and business operators.

“This was a decision made by Parks Canada and the national parks are federal jurisdiction,” he said. “The role we have taken is to encourage collaboration, to listen to community members impacted by the decision then advocate for what they have been saying to the federal government.”

Chuck Davidson, CEO of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, said it was unfortunate there wasn’t more consultation before the ban was announced. He said it would have been better had Parks Canada acknowledged the economic challenges and maybe put a program in place to deal with financial shortcomings that might arise.

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“I understand the precautionary measures, which is fine, but I think it could have been much better handled from a communications perspective,” Davidson said.

Meanwhile, the chambers and others want to get the word out that even though folks might not be able to go boating, there are lots of other activities and amenities to be enjoyed in the region.

“Riding Mountain had become a real destination in Manitoba and businesses are making significant investments to build upon that,” said Davidson. “Maybe you can’t go boating, but you can still go golfing or visit the new spa at Elkhorn Resort. There’s hiking and bike paths.

“There are things to do and people need to be made aware of that.”

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca