News & Resources
The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.
Watercraft transportation legal requirements to prevent invasive species, effective May 17, 2024
Effective May 17, 2024 in B.C. it is now illegal to transport your watercraft with the drain plug still in place, in order to prevent invasive species. Before transporting a boat or other watercraft, owners/operators must remove the drain plug and drain all water on dry land including all internal compartments such as ballasts, bilges, and live wells. Allow a minimum of 24 hours drying time for watercraft and/or equipment before entering new waters.
Effective May 17, 2024 in B.C. it is now illegal to transport your watercraft with the drain plug still in place.
Before transporting a boat or other watercraft, owners/operators must remove the drain plug and drain all water on dry land including all internal compartments such as ballasts, bilges, and live wells. Operators should also allow a minimum of 24 hours drying time for watercraft and/or equipment before entering new waters.
Learn more:
Risk of Invasive Mussels to Okanagan Lakes & Waterways
The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) has increased calls for action after the announcement of invasive mussels in a tributary to the Columbia River, which connects to the Okanagan. The OBWB began calling for a temporary moratorium on watercraft coming into BC. Support for the moratorium has been gathering steam with letters coming in from BC municipalities, chambers of commerce, TOTA, and others.
The Don't Move a Mussel campaign website has resources to learn more about risks and prevention, and to raise awareness.
The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) has been stepping up calls for action after last September’s announcement of quagga mussels in the Idaho’s Snake River, a tributary to the Columbia River which connects to the Okanagan, and only an 11-hour drive to the BC and Alberta border.
Idaho’s desperate response was to spread toxic copper chelate into the river, killing almost seven tonnes of fish and poisoning a 26 km stretch of the river. The effectiveness won’t be known until this spring.
In October, the OBWB began calling for a temporary moratorium on watercraft coming into BC until results from Idaho’s efforts are known and the Province has closed any gaps in its Invasive Mussel Defence Program. Support for the moratorium has been gathering steam with letters coming in from BC municipalities, chambers of commerce, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, and others.
Tourism businesses and residents can review the Don't Move a Mussel campaign website to learn more about risks and prevention, and access resources to raise awareness.