Muskoseepi Park Pond Temporarily Closed for Treatment to Eliminate Invasive Species

The Muskoseepi Park pond is temporarily closed, starting September 4, to allow Alberta Environment and Parks to treat the pond after an aquatic invasive species, goldfish, was discovered.

The pond will be treated on September 7, and closed for up-to six weeks to allow crews to monitor the pond, determine the number of invasive fish, and ensure the treatment is effective.

The invasive goldfish must be eliminated from the pond as they are dangerous and harmful to waterbodies. The species disrupts the naturally occurring ecosystem by reproducing rapidly, surviving through cold temperatures and low oxygen levels, and by out-competing native fish species for food and habitat.

The treatment used is called rotenone and is the most effective way to eliminate invasive goldfish while causing the least disturbance to the overall ecosystem. Rotenone is commonly used in scenarios where an invasive fish species is discovered because it is toxic to gilled animals, such as fish, but does not impact non-gilled animals (birds, mammals).

During the treatment, Alberta Environment and Parks will provide education on the impacts of aquatic invasive species in the Province’s waterbodies and will train City staff on the techniques used to remove invasive fish like goldfish.
The goldfish is the same species that was discovered in the Muskoseepi Park pond in 2016. At that time, a rotenone treatment was successfully used to eradicate the invasive species and restore the pond to its natural state.
Alberta Environment and Parks has advised the City that should goldfish be discovered in the pond again, they will consider cancelling future annual stocking of trout at the pond for recreational use. The public are reminded not to release invasive species into the wild. Releasing invasive fish into Alberta waterbodies is illegal and can result in personal fines of over $100,000 and/or jail time.

For more information on invasive species, please visit the Alberta Environment and Parks webpage on aquatic invasive species. To report an aquatic invasive species call 1-855-336-BOAT (2628) and remember Don’t Let It Loose!