- Role
- Finalist
- Region
- Manitoba Indigenous
- Pronouns
- he/him/his
Boston McKay
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Project
Zebra Mussels in Cross Lake Manitoba: Managing the Infestation
Project #7310
While swimming near Cross Lake, I got a small cut from sharp shells on the rocks. I later found out they were zebra mussels, an invasive species causing problems in Manitoba’s lakes and rivers. For this project, I wanted to learn how they spread, how they affect the environment, and how we’re dealing with them. I found out Manitoba Hydro uses chlorine to slow them down, but it can also harm fish and other aquatic life. I interviewed a Hydro employee and learned that mussels keep coming back every year. I also discovered a method called environmental DNA (eDNA), which helps detect zebra mussels by testing water samples. Next, I plan to collect water from different parts of Cross Lake to see where the mussels are and if eDNA can help track them in a safer way.
- Challenge
- Environment and Climate Change
- Category
- Senior
- Type
- Discovery