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Minnedosa Tribune FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2025
Vo lu m e 143 N u m ber27
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DAR R E L L N E SBIT T / M IN N E DO SA T R IBU N E Brothers Colter, left, and Beau, who was carefully studying Santa Claus, were among the youngsters taking time to share their toy wishes with the jolly man himself at the Christmas in the Valley event held on Saturday, Dec. 6 at the Minnedosa Community Conference Centre. The sons of Ryan and Brooklyn Heino didn’t mind sharing time with Santa, while other youngsters didn’t get so close, opting for a warm cup of hot chocolate and a warm hug from mom instead.
Clea r La ke boa t ba n to be decided by F eb. 2 0 2 6
P a rks Ca n a da a n n oun ces shiftin m a n a gem en tstra tegy a s zebra m ussels ha ve successfully esta blished in the la ke RAC HEAL FLIN TO FT M inne d o sa Trib une
A critical decision on whether to restore or permanently ban motorized boats on Clear Lake is expected from Parks Canada by February 2026. The pending announcement arrives as the park confirms that the
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invasive zebra mussels have successfully established a reproducing population in the lake, forcing a major shift in the park’s management strategy for one of Manitoba’s most treasured waters. The final ruling on watercraft management for the 2026 season will mark the conclusion of a highstakes review process. This proc-
ess has included weighing the damaging results of 2025 monitoring, examining a third-party study on how boat traffic impacts freshwater lakes, and incorporating feedback from the public and Indigenous communities. The decision is necessary because the effort to eradicate the mussels is now over. Monitoring
confirmed the population is reproducing, with the first-ever detection of the microscopic larvae, called veligers, found alongside small adult and juvenile mussels. This permanent establishment means the mussels’ genetic material is now a constant feature of the lake’s environment. As a result, Parks Canada will end rou-
tine DNA testing in Clear Lake, diverting those resources to protect other clean lakes in the park, such as Lake Katherine and Lake Audy. According to Parks Canada, the zebra mussel species poses a severe and permanent threat to the ecosystem and infrastructure.
SEE PR O T E CT IN G , PAGE 2
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