We’re thrilled to share that we’ve purchased a 2022 New Holland Boomer 50 HP MFWD tractor with floatation tires (to be installed) to support our Zebra Mussel clean-up efforts. This equipment will allow us to operate our Cherrington 800 PT Beach Cleaner, which we purchased at the end of last summer, and use the tractor’s bucket attachment to load ATV trailers with shells. Our HBCA Mussel Crew tractor will help us work smarter and faster for years to come.

This purchase was made possible through a $57,500 grant from the Manitoba government AIS Prevention Fund, awarded in recognition of the incredible success of our Mussel Crew’s Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Management and Prevention efforts last year. These large-scale, volunteer, public beach clean-ups were not only effective removal efforts, but powerful education and awareness campaigns. Through hands-on volunteer participation, residents and visitors, learned to identify zebra mussels, understand provincial permitting requirements, and follow approved disposal methods. This practical knowledge is essential to preventing accidental transport and further spread to un-infested water bodies. The visibility of these events significantly amplified our message. On-site face-to-face communications, social media sharing, and community engagement allowed us to reach hundreds of thousands of people across Manitoba and beyond. Without these clean-ups, our voice and educational impact would not have carried nearly as far. By empowering the public with knowledge and responsibility, our efforts actively support the province’s prevention goals. The HBCA Mussel Crew provided an unparalleled outreach opportunity to educate the public on the devastation caused by AIS in Lake Winnipeg and what needs to be done to prevent it from outward spread.

It is our hope that HBCA will receive further funding in our 2026/2027 grant application to purchase two four-wheel winch style trailers and a shell grinder. These added resources would reduce the volunteer physical muscle needed to empty trailers with the winch trailers which in turn increased efficiency and prevented volunteer burn out. The shell grinder would prevent long-term accumulation of discarded shells in the meadows by grinding them to sand sized particles, leaving no trace.

With these improvements, we’re aiming to clean more often, more efficiently, and with less physical strain on our volunteers.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to making this program such a success, we’re excited for an even more impactful season ahead!

Laura Kemp & Patrick Jolicoeur
Co-Chairs of HBCA Mussel Crew