Photo: Dale Wilson
Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program
Riding Mountain National Park
NEW In 2025, Parks Canada will permit only non-motorized watercraft on Clear Lake and outlying waterbodies. Zebra Mussel Information and Updates.
All watercraft, fishing equipment, wetsuits, and inflatables must complete a Parks Canada aquatic invasive species inspection and comply with Clean, Drain, Dry protocol.
Protecting our water bodies is a shared responsibility. Everyone has an important role to play. When accessing any authorized waterbody, follow the Clean, Drain, Dry protocol, have your equipment inspected by Parks Canada staff, and decontaminated as necessary.
* Provincial aquatic invasive species (AIS) inspections and decontaminations are not valid in Riding Mountain National Park. Clear Lake permit holders who decide to launch their watercraft outside of Riding Mountain National Park must follow watercraft decontamination as required by the outside jurisdiction.
In 2025, Parks Canada will permit only non-motorized watercraft on Clear Lake and outlying waterbodies.
Users of non-motorized watercraft, including kayaks and canoes, may choose between an annual permit to use only Clear Lake or an annual permit to use the various outlying waterbodies in Riding Mountain National Park, such as Lake Audy, Moon Lake and Lake Katherine.
Watercraft permitted on outlying lakes are identified with a unique green sticker.
Watercraft permitted on Clear Lake will be identified with a unique pink sticker.
The AIS Prevention Program at Riding Mountain National Park is intended to reduce the risk of spreading zebra mussels (see Zebra Mussel Information and Updates) from Clear Lake to outlying water bodies, slow down the spread through Clear Lake and reduce the risk of introducing new invasive species (black algae, spiny water flea, rusty crayfish, etc.) into Riding Mountain National Park waters.
See: Restricted activity - Non-motorized Watercraft | Restricted activity - Fishing Equipment, Inflatables, Wetsuits
Interested in receiving updates on the AIS Prevention Program? Send an email to: comms-riding@pc.gc.ca
If you use your non-motorized watercraft, or water-related equipment outside of RMNP, your permit becomes void. To re-enter park waters, re-inspection is mandatory.
Inspection Schedule:
- The AIS inspection station will open for daily starting on Friday, May 16, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm CST.
- For questions please call the AIS Inspectors at 431-351-0774
- Seasonal permits are now available for non-motorized/self-propelled, wind powered watercraft using Clear Lake or outlying lakes such as Moon Lake, Lake Audy, Lake Katherine, and Deep Lake. To get your 2025 seasonal permit, go to the Boat Cove AIS inspection station for your watercraft's inspection and permit. Your permit is void if you use your watercraft outside Riding Mountain National Park. Follow the @RidingNP Facebook page for updates on the program.
Park Wardens will be monitoring watercraft and doing checks to ensure that watercraft operators have received inspections and possess valid permits. Non-compliant operators face a maximum fine of $25,000.
Protecting our water bodies is a shared responsibility. Everyone has an important role to play. When accessing any authorized waterbody, follow the Clean, Drain, Dry protocol and have your equipment inspected and decontaminated as necessary.
AIS Prevention Program Questions and Answers
What are the rules for non-motorized watercraft on Clear Lake?
Non-motorized watercraft require a Parks Canada aquatic invasive species inspection and an annual permit to launch in Clear Lake. The watercraft cannot be used in any other waterbody in Riding Mountain National Park in 2025.
Watercraft permitted on Clear Lake will be identified with a unique pink sticker.
Parks Canada staff will provide the rules and regulations for watercraft use in Riding Mountain National Park and ensure the watercraft user understands proper Clean, Drain, Dry techniques before issuing the permit. A written test is not required in 2025.
What are the rules for non-motorized watercraft on the outlying lakes in Riding Mountain National Park, other than Clear Lake?
Non-motorized watercraft require an annual permit for outlying waterbodies in Riding Mountain National Park, other than Clear Lake, and these watercraft cannot be used in Clear Lake during the same year.
These watercraft can be used in any waterbody in Riding Mountain National Park (except Clear Lake), but users must Clean, Drain, Dry every time they leave the water.
Watercraft permitted on outlying lakes are identified with a unique green sticker.
Parks Canada staff will provide the rules and regulations for watercraft use in Riding Mountain National Park and ensure the watercraft user understands proper Clean, Drain, Dry techniques before issuing the permit. A written test is not required in 2025.
Why is there only one AIS inspection station?
Having one central aquatic invasive species station allows inspectors to efficiently handle many different tasks. Roaming inspectors are present around Clear Lake and outlying waters to conduct compliance checks.
Will Parks Canada decontaminate watercraft leaving Clear Lake?
It is the watercraft owner’s responsibility to comply with provincial regulations. This can be done by following the Manitoba Clean, Drain, Dry guidelines. There are also provincial inspection and decontamination stations at high-traffic areas.
If zebra mussels are already here, why is there still an AIS program?
Prevention is the most effective tool for managing invasive species. Once an invasive species becomes established, it is very difficult and often impossible to fully remove it. Parks Canada is doing everything reasonable to prevent the transfer of zebra mussels to the outlying lakes and rivers of Riding Mountain National Park and to water bodies outside the park.
Zebra mussels are not the only aquatic invasive species to be concerned about. Many other aquatic invasive species are already in the province, and these pose risks to both ecosystems and visitor experience.
While Clear Lake is a popular destination within the park, Parks Canada is committed to protecting all waterbodies within Riding Mountain National Park.
What are the rules for fishing gear, wetsuits, and inflatables?
If you want to use fishing gear, wetsuits, or inflatables you must choose between Clear Lake or the outlying lake in Riding Mountain National Park, other than Clear Lake.
Fishing gear, wetsuits, and inflatables require an annual permit for either Clear Lake (pink) OR the outlying lakes (green) in Riding Mountain National Park, other than Clear Lake.
Equipment with a Clear Lake (pink) permit can ONLY be used in Clear Lake and cannot be used in the other Riding Mountain National Park waterbodies during the same year.
Equipment with an ‘outlying lakes’ (green) permit cannot be used in Clear Lake during the same year. It can be used in any water body in Riding Mountain National Park, except Clear Lake, but users must Clean, Drain, Dry every time they leave an individual water body.
Parks Canada staff will provide the rules and regulations for water equipment use in Riding Mountain National Park and ensure the equipment user understands proper Clean, Drain, Dry techniques before issuing the permit. A written test is not required in 2025.
Due to the increased risk of spreading aquatic invasive species via natural bait, the use and possession of leeches is prohibited.
Are Lake users permitted to transport non-motorized watercraft with a trailer?
Visitors are permitted to transport a non-motorized watercraft (canoe, kayak, etc.) on a trailer, provided this trailer never touches the water. Trailers have compartments or hard-to-reach spaces that may not completely dry and may be impossible to decontaminate, which increases the risk of transferring aquatic invasive species.
What happens if someone wants to launch their non-motorized watercraft outside of RMNP?
If someone removes their watercraft from Clear Lake and intends to launch it outside of Riding Mountain National Park, it is the watercraft owner’s responsibility to comply with provincial regulations. Manitoba’s aquatic invasive species website lists provincial inspection and decontamination stations.
Returning watercraft must complete an inspection and potential decontamination to launch in Riding Mountain National Park waters.
Why are non-motorized boats not allowed to move between Clear Lake and the outlying lakes and rivers within RMNP?
Allowing watercraft to transfer between Clear Lake and other Riding Mountain National Park waterbodies would pose a significant risk of spreading zebra mussels. Once an invasive species becomes established, it is very difficult and often impossible to fully remove it.
Creating two separate programs provides water recreation opportunities throughout the park while minimizing the risk of spreading aquatic invasive species. This should reduce confusion, increase accountability, support compliance and enforcement, effectively use limited resources, and ensure the accuracy of ongoing aquatic invasive species detection monitoring in the outlying waterbodies. Efforts will be concentrated on containing the spread of zebra mussels from Clear Lake to other waterbodies.
While Clear Lake is a popular destination within the park, Parks Canada is committed to protecting all waterbodies within Riding Mountain National Park.
What other aquatic invasive species are Parks Canada staff working to keep out of Riding Mountain National Park waters?
Parks Canada is committed to protecting waters against the threat of biodiversity loss, including from aquatic invasive species. Watercraft are inspected to ensure they are cleaned, drained, dried, and unlikely to carry aquatic invasive species.
When inspecting watercraft for aquatic invasive species, Parks Canada inspectors are looking for species including but not limited to quagga mussels, spiny water flea, black algae, rusty crayfish, and Eurasian milfoil.
For more information on aquatic invasive species in Manitoba visit: https://www.gov.mb.ca/stopais/index.html