RMBR Invasive Species Network

05/13/2026

Rules and Regulations for the 2026 season on Clear Lake.

🚤 Clear Lake Details for 2026 Season

While the ice is melting on Clear Lake, park staff are getting ready to welcome watercraft back to Riding Mountain National Park!

✅ Key requirements for 2026 include:
• 150 m no-wake zone along shorelines
• Non-motorized days: Mondays and Tuesdays
• Non-motorized boats (like kayaks) can be on the water at any time. Motors are not allowed overnight between 8:30 pm and 8:30 am.
• Clean, Drain, Dry before every launch
• Permits are also required for non-motorized watercraft on Clear Lake and outlying lakes, same as 2025

⚠️ Mandatory inspection and annual permit for all watercraft and certain water equipment – find out more here:
🔗 https://ow.ly/CiiJ50YYmpt
🔗 https://ow.ly/KMQ650YYmpM

🏷️ About the tagging program:
Motorized and trailered boats must be inspected and tagged by Parks Canada staff. Boats are locked to their trailer with a tag each time they leave the water and unlocked before launching again, helping ensure they remain free of aquatic invasive species.

⏱ Plan ahead: inspections at Boat Cove in Wasagaming run daily from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm, with possible wait times during peak periods.

Inspection station opens May 14, 2026

🔗 Learn more: https://ow.ly/1MUW50YYgo0

12/09/2025

🔍 2025 Monitoring Update: Zebra Mussels in Riding Mountain National Park

Throughout 2025, Parks Canada conducted extensive monitoring for aquatic invasive species in Clear Lake and surrounding water bodies.

✅ Here’s what we found:
• Zebra mussels continue to reproduce in Clear Lake.
• Settlement and growth observed on docks in the eastern part of the lake.
• Detection results: 1 veliger, 2 adults, and approximately 15 juveniles.

🌊 Other Lakes Remain Clear
No evidence of zebra mussels in: Lake Katherine, Grayling Lake, Moon Lake, Lake Audy, Whirlpool Lake, Bob Hill Lake, or Deep Lake.

✅ What’s Next?
• Reviewing the results from public consultations about the park management plan.
• Monitoring and prevention remain top priorities to protect Clear Lake’s ecosystem.
• Continued collaboration with Manitoba’s Aquatic Invasive Species team.

👉To guide a winter decision on motorized watercraft use in Clear Lake, among other items, Parks Canada will consider:
• Monitoring results from 2025 and previous years.
• A third-party literature review on motorboat impacts on inland lakes.
• Feedback from management planning consultations.
• Engagement with others, including consultation with Section 35 rights holders.

📢 Learn More
Read the full update in our newsletter and visit our webpage for details:
🔗Subscribe to our newsletter: https://ow.ly/pQHA50XFQ9o
🔗Zebra Mussel Information and Updates: parks.canada.ca/faq-ais

09/03/2024

👀Effective tomorrow👀

New AIS Inspection hours are 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
🕗By Appointment Only - 204-396-4579🕗

Remember, AIS inspections are mandatory for all watercraft and water-related equipment entering park waters (including beach toys and inflatables)🤿🎣🚣

More info here: https://ow.ly/IXTm50T81Xk

08/31/2024

06/15/2024

🕤AIS Inspection Station hours change! 🕤

Effective Friday, June 14, the hours at the inspection station will be 9:15 am - 4:45 pm.

For all rules on accessing waterbodies in , see here: https://ow.ly/6FH850RHkcW

05/29/2024

👋Hey folks, the seasonal permitting process is live and ready for you.

To get your 2024 seasonal permit for your non-motorized/human-powered, wind powered watercraft to use on outlying lakes:

👉 Go to the Visitor Centre in Wasagaming 9 am - 8 pm any day of the week to take your short quiz on the AIS program
👉 Pass your quiz and head to the Boat Cove AIS inspection station for your watercraft's inspection and seasonal permit

🛑 Remember, your permit becomes void if you use your watercraft outside of and you will have to get the inspection/decontamination again 🛑

More info here: https://ow.ly/6FH850RHkcW 🛶⛵🛶⛵

05/15/2024

Important information to know about RMNP this summer.

😎New things to remember when you visit this Summer!🌿

👌AIS inspection station is open daily 11:30 am – 6:30 pm Boat Cove, get your human-propelled vessels inspected for use on outlying waterbodies only (not Clear Lake).
👌 is OPEN 😊, get out into nature and feel great.
👌Seasonal permits are only available for outlying lakes like Moon Lake and Lake Katherine. Seasonal permits will be available soon!
👌Keep calm and swim on! You can still swim in Clear Lake!

Plan your visit: https://ow.ly/W8tR50RGao5

05/10/2024

Important update from RMNP. Please read and share.

👋Information update - Temporary Watercraft Management Measures for Clear Lake in . 👋

See the news release here: https://ow.ly/EagN50RBSBi

Information bulletin: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/mb/riding/securite-safety/bulletins/0b548f22-fa00-4952-a7b2-ec4aa9e48328

Stay up to date with the full program here: https://ow.ly/9u1P50RBSBf

02/22/2024

Riding Mountain AIS Update: Zebra mussel eDNA testing

The first set of water samples collected from Clear Lake between January 8 and February 2, 2024, have all tested negative for zebra mussel environmental DNA (eDNA). Zebra Mussels may be present despite negative eDNA results. Water samples are being tested at the University of Manitoba Freshwater Institute operated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Earlier this week, another set of samples collected since February 3 were sent to the same lab for testing.

The attached map shows Clear Lake broken into 219 sections. Water samples are taken from each section based on priority. High-priority sections are closest to boat launches, beaches, and other areas of human use. Zebra mussels are most likely to first become established at these locations. Most high-priority sections (in green) were included in the first round of samples that were tested. The remaining high-priority sections (in red) have now been sampled and will be included in the samples shipped earlier this week.

Currently, samples are being collected from the bright yellow sections. These yellow sections are up to ten metres deep and zebra mussels could become established in these locations. Winter sampling will continue until all sections have been tested or as long as ice conditions permit.

Also attached is an image of an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that has been deployed for testing. This ROV has a camera to provide a visual inspection under the ice.

A potential infestation of zebra mussels in Clear Lake presents a real threat of significant and irreversible ecological damage to the lake and downstream waterbodies. Parks Canada’s legislation requires the maintenance and restoration of ecological integrity through protection of natural resources and natural processes be the priority when considering all aspects of the management of national parks. Parks Canada also understands the importance of Clear Lake to Indigenous Peoples, visitors, and the local community.

Full consideration will be given to all aspects of this situation before any decision is made about lake use for the summer of 2024.

Parks Canada will continue to provide updates on the situation as information becomes available. To stay up to date, please visit our website at https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/mb/riding/nature/conserv/aqua/faq

What do you need to know?

In cold water, zebra mussels are less metabolically active and are much less likely to shed eDNA. If a water sample tests positive for eDNA, there is a high likelihood of a population of zebra mussels nearby.

Parks Canada remains committed to working with partners to reduce the risk of AIS spreading in the park and downstream through southern Manitoba, no matter the results of the winter monitoring.

The likelihood of success for any potential management action will depend on whether intervention can occur before significant reproduction and spread occurs within the lake. Determining with relatively high confidence where a population may exist in the lake will help inform management decisions.

Stay informed by connecting with Riding Mountain National Park’s website at https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/mb/riding/nature/conserv/aqua/faq.

01/23/2024