Perimeter defences have been breached.

Now that may sound like the latest ramblings from the president-elect across the line, but it香蕉视频直播檚 a far more serious situation that could ultimately have significant implications for the Okanagan.

Recently, invasive mussel larvae were found in Montana, in the Tiber and Canyon Ferry reservoirs and the Milk and Missouri rivers.

It香蕉视频直播檚 the first time invasive mussels have been discovered in the Northwest.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 alarming,香蕉视频直播� Coun. Juliette Cunningham told her Vernon colleagues Monday.

And that香蕉视频直播檚 not an overreaction given the rapid spread of quagga and zebra mussels across North America.

They first arrived from eastern Europe in the ballast water of giant ships in the 1980s. They soon conquered all of the Great Lakes and moved into the Mississippi River basin and the St. Lawrence River.

Devastation has been caused in Lake Winnipeg while they appeared in Nevada香蕉视频直播檚 Lake Mead in 2007.

香蕉视频直播淪ubsequent surveys found smaller numbers of quagga mussels in Lakes Mohave and Havasu in the Colorado River, and in the Colorado River aqueduct system which serves Southern California,香蕉视频直播� states California香蕉视频直播檚 Department of Fish and Wildlife.

香蕉视频直播淎ll reservoirs, lakes and watersheds receiving raw Colorado River water have been exposed to quagga mussels. The first confirmed find of zebra mussels in California occurred at San Justo Reservoir Jan. 10, 2008.香蕉视频直播�

Lake Mead has changed forever.

香蕉视频直播淎dult mussels colonize water intakes, marina structures, and navigation aids requiring expensive defouling and repair,香蕉视频直播� states the U.S. National Parks Service.

香蕉视频直播淪hells of dead mussels are hazardous to people on beaches, and larval mussels are drawn into boat engines and bilges where they grow into adults and clog recreational equipment. Mussels feed by continuously filtering water for plankton, and the tremendous filtering capacity of large colonies of mussels can deprive other aquatic species of resources necessary for survival.香蕉视频直播�

Sounding more and more like an old B horror movie, life as we know it could change in the Okanagan even if just a few of these mussels show up in a boat.

And unfortunately, it could be just a matter of time despite the defence systems thrown in place by the provincial government.

香蕉视频直播淭here are a lot of holes in (border) inspection. They are only open until 10 p.m. in the summer,香蕉视频直播� said Cunningham.

She also fears that people travelling from infected areas will avoid the stations because they don香蕉视频直播檛 want their boats impounded.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 devastating. They reproduce so quickly, it香蕉视频直播檚 shocking. We香蕉视频直播檙e not taking this seriously enough.香蕉视频直播�

The Okanagan Basin Water Board has called for inspection stations to expand their hours, and for tough rules requiring all watercraft entering B.C. to report to an inspection centre before launching in the water.

According to the Flathead Beacon, it香蕉视频直播檚 not known yet if a 香蕉视频直播渇ull adult population of mussels has been established,香蕉视频直播� in Montana. But given that a portion of Big Sky Country rests under southeastern B.C., these invaders are as close to us as they have ever been.

Let香蕉视频直播檚 hope that the provincial government is monitoring the situation in Montana, and that local MLAs Eric Foster, Greg Kyllo and Norm Letnick are pressuring Premier Christy Clark, who represents the North Westside, to be more vigilant.

Yes inspections cost money, but when it comes to the social and economic future of the Okanagan, we can香蕉视频直播檛 afford not to act.