MADGE LAKE — Two community organizations are encouraging boat owners to make a voluntary commitment to keep their watercraft on Madge Lake in Duck Mountain Provincial Park this season as part of a new effort to prevent zebra mussels and other aquatic invasive species from reaching the popular Saskatchewan destination.
Friends of Madge Lake and the Madge Lake Cabin Owners Association have launched One Boat One Lake, a program that asks residents and seasonal property owners to register their boats and pledge not to move them between waterways during the boating season.
Barbara McLean, chair of Friends of Madge Lake, said the idea was inspired by programs that have been successfully used elsewhere, particularly in Manitoba.
"We've been looking at what other communities and other parks have done, both in Saskatchewan as well as out of province," McLean said. "One of the concepts they had was One Boat One Lake, which makes a lot of sense for people who, for the most part, remain at their lake and don't take their watercraft outside that body of water."
The initiative comes as community groups work to keep Madge Lake free of zebra mussels, an invasive species that can spread through boats, trailers, docks and other equipment moved between lakes. McLean said organizers consulted with representatives from Sandy Lake, Man., a community that has successfully prevented zebra mussel infestations despite its proximity to Lake Winnipeg, where the species has been established for years.
"They've been very successful," she said. "They've been very diligent, and they've been very helpful in sharing information with us."
Unlike Sandy Lake, which has municipal authority to implement certain preventative measures, the Madge Lake program relies entirely on voluntary participation.
"We can't force anyone to do it," McLean said. "This is voluntary, and if people choose to participate, we welcome their participation. If they choose to take their watercraft to another lake, we're hoping they'll be responsible and ensure it is decontaminated before they come back to Madge."
Participants receive a numbered laminated decal identifying them as part of the program. Organizers say the decals promote awareness and help create a culture of responsibility around invasive species prevention. The campaign is primarily aimed at cottage owners and seasonal residents whose boats typically remain on the lake.
McLean acknowledged the approach may be more difficult for campers and day users who frequently travel between lakes but said education remains a central focus.
"We don't want to be intimidating and we don't want to target people," she said. "We are wanting to ensure that people are educated and knowledgeable about this invasive species and what the implications are if it comes into our lake."
Friends of Madge Lake has been using social media and communications through the cottage owners association to raise awareness. McLean said organizers want people to understand the risk extends beyond motorboats to include kayaks, paddleboards, fishing gear and other equipment that may carry invasive species. The message being promoted is simple: clean, drain and dry all water-related equipment before moving it between waterways.
McLean said public response to the campaign has been overwhelmingly positive so far, particularly among cottage owners.
"We've had a lot of support from the cottage owners," she said. "We've also had very positive response on Facebook."
While some residents believe a zebra mussel infestation is inevitable, McLean disagrees.
"When people say it's inevitable, we say no, it's actually not inevitable," she said. "We each can do our part to ensure that Madge Lake stays free of this invasive species."
The groups are also advocating for additional provincial resources, including watercraft inspection stations, decontamination units and expanded education efforts. McLean said volunteers are willing to help but a long-term solution will require government involvement.
"We have people here who are prepared to take training and help," she said. "But we need provincial employees to be part of this too."
Representatives from Friends of Madge Lake recently met with Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment officials responsible for fisheries and aquatic invasive species programs to learn more about provincial prevention efforts. The organizations hope government representatives will visit the lake to answer questions from residents, businesses and community groups.
Registration for the One Boat One Lake program is free, and organizers say participation continues to grow as awareness spreads throughout the community.
"We have to figure out additional ways to make registration available because people are excited about this," McLean said. "They want to be part of the initiative." Organizers say the campaign is built on a simple principle: keeping boats on a single lake reduces the risk of transporting invasive species and helps protect Madge Lake for future generations.
