Manitoba claims 1st victory against Lake Winnipeg zebra mussels

The Manitoba government says its experiment to eradicate a zebra mussel invasion inLake Winnipegappearsto besuccessful, at least in one of its harbours.

Officials say Winnipeg Beach will be reopened after it was closed two weeks ago.

The harbour was one of four that was sealed off with a silt curtain and pumped through with liquid potash until it reached a lethal concentration for the mussels.

RobNedotiafko, whoco-ordinatedthe treatment, saystest mussels in a nearby secure cage have all died.

"The gated curtain at the mouth of the harbour was removed, officially signifying the end of the treatment process," Nedotiafko told reporters Monday afternoon.

"It was determined late yesterday that all test zebra mussels in the harbour, through mortality testing, were confirmed dead."

Because the mussels in the cage died, officialsare assuming the ones not in the cageare dead as well.

Nedotiafko said so far, the signs are promisingfor the harbours atGimli, Balsam Bay andArnes. The potash treatmentbeganat Balsam Bay onMay 24 andatGimliHarbour on Saturday, while a curtain is currently being installed atArnes.

The province says the liquid potash treatment in open water, in a lake environment, is the first of its kind.

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Conservation Minister Gord Mackintosh has said the province had to take action in the hope of keeping the mussels out of Lake Winnipeg.

He says the province is focusing on a long-term strategy to ensure the mussels don't take hold.

The mussels, which were found for the first time in Manitoba last October, reproduce quickly and can disrupt the food chain, clog water pipes and create algae.