Non-motorized watercraft regulations
Waterton Lakes National Park
Beginning April 1, 2024: all non-motorized watercraft from outside of the park are prohibited from entering water bodies in Waterton Lakes National Park.
Waterton Lakes National Park is taking additional steps to protect park and regional waters from harmful aquatic invasive species (AIS), including invasive mussels and whirling disease beginning in 2024.
As the headwaters of a larger watershed, Parks Canada is taking action in Waterton Lakes National Park to ensure ecological integrity of aquatic ecosystems in the park and downstream aquatic communities remains intact.
Protecting the broader watershed
The Waterton Lake chain is the headwaters of the Waterton River, which feeds into the Oldman River and the broader South Saskatchewan River watershed. Due to high recreation use within the park and the locations visitors and their watercraft arrive from, the park represents a high risk for introducing additional AIS into this watershed (whirling disease is already present downstream of the Waterton dam). If a species like invasive zebra or quagga mussels entered the broader watershed, they could cause millions of dollars in damage and in cleanup costs to the region.
Responding to a growing risk
In 2023, whirling disease was detected in the Belly River within park boundaries. Outside of Waterton, whirling disease was also detected in Yoho National Park, which was its first detection in British Columbia and in a Pacific draining watershed. Invasive mussels were found both in the Snake River in Idaho and in Clear Lake in Riding Mountain National Park. In the case of Riding Mountain, a mandatory inspection program had been in place since 2018 but failed to stop the introduction of zebra mussels into Clear Lake.
Parks Canada has been taking action on aquatic invasives for several years, including operating a mandatory inspection program for nonmotorized watercraft from 2021 to 2023. However, program compliance was estimated be less than 60% of watercraft users. We thank those who diligently had their boats inspected over the past few seasons, but this is a necessary change to ensure the ecological integrity of park waters and the broader watershed.
90-day quarantine program for motorized and trailered boats
All motorized and trailered watercraft continue to be required to participate in the park’s 90-day quarantine sealing program before they will be able to enter Upper or Middle Waterton Lake. This program is being administered by Improvement District #4 and Shoreline Cruise Co., with support from Parks Canada. Learn more about the 90-day quarantine program.
Mandatory self-certification
Other water equipment that is not prohibited still requires a self-certification permit. This includes:
Note that packable or inflatable kayaks, paddleboards, hydrofoils and canoes are considered non-motorized watercraft and are prohibited from entering waterbodies in Waterton Lakes National Park.
Self-certification permit locations
Location details
| Location | Coordinates |
|---|---|
| Belly River | 49°06'54.1"N 113°50'34.3"W |
| Belly River Campground | 49°01'34.9"N 113°41'04.8"W |
| Cameron Bay | 49°02'41.7"N 113°54'50.1"W |
| Cameron Lake | 49°01'10.7"N 114°02'42.2"W |
| Driftwood Beach | 49°03'57.7"N 113°53'44.6"W |
| Emerald Bay North | 49°03'24.7"N 113°54'31.5"W |
| Emerald Bay South | 49°03'20.8"N 113°54'37.7"W |
| Hay Barn (closed) | 49°04'48.0"N 113°51'03.1"W |
| Knight Lake (closed) | 49°06'12.7"N 113°51'05.2"W |
| Linnet Docks | 49°03'48.5"N 113°54'12.2"W |
| Marina | 49°03'15.2"N 113°54'27.6"W |
| Maskinonge | 49°06'37.2"N 113°50'28.7"W |
| Park gate | 49°06'34.4"N 113°50'57.3"W |
| Townsite Campground kiosk | 49°02'54.9"N 113°54'33.6"W |
| Visitor centre | 404 Cameron Falls Drive |
Aquatic invasive species in Waterton Lakes National Park
Many of Waterton Lakes National Park’s thousands of visitors enjoy the park’s lakes and rivers each year by boating, fishing and swimming. These activities risk introducing aquatic invasive species (AIS) into park waters. AIS are non-native species, exotic species, noxious weeds, or invasive pests or pathogens that require aquatic habitat to survive. Many kinds of aquatics invasive species can survive in Waterton Lakes National Park and interrupt our ecosystem. Some species of concern are zebra and quagga mussels, whirling disease and Eurasian milfoil.
Invasive mussels
Zebra and quagga mussels are prodigious filter feeders, they strip nutrients from the water leaving little or no food for native species. This affects the entire food web, impacting plant and animal life in the region, and altering water chemistry and clarity. They are of highest concern, and many other jurisdictions have taken action to prevent their spread. Infestations are permanent and irreversible. Learn more about invasive mussels.
Whirling disease
In 2023, whirling disease was detected in the Belly River within park boundaries and is already present downstream of Waterton dam. This disease is detrimental to the park’s native fish populations and containing its spread is important.
Eurasian water milfoil
Eurasian water milfoil is a perennial, submersed aquatic plant native to Eurasia and North Africa. This invasive plant is currently not present in Alberta, but, new colonies can be formed from a single stem, seed or leaf. Eurasian milfoil forms thick layers that shade native plants and decrease oxygen levels as they decay, impacting native fish and wildlife. It can be very difficult to eradicate once established.
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