felt soles in BC?

[rena0040]

Anyone know off hand if we can still wear felt sole wading boots in BC. Heading out in a few weeks and was gonna lend out my old backups.
Thanks

[professori]

Yes you can. No restrictions here.

[normstad]

Sorry for my ignorance, but why are felt soles an issue anywhere?

[mgvande]

Originally Posted by normstad

Sorry for my ignorance, but why are felt soles an issue anywhere?

They could hold critters or plant life in them

[professori]

Originally Posted by mgvande

They could hold critters or plant life in them

Felts absorb water and the micro organisms that live there. It can take weeks for felts to completely dry and thus organisms from one water system, whirling disease is of particular note and its spread from system to system is a driving impetus for many jurisdictions in the US banning the use of felt soled wading boots. There is an interesting read here. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/felt.html

[normstad]

Originally Posted by mgvande

They could hold critters or plant life in them

Originally Posted by professori

Felts absorb water and the micro organisms that live there. It can take weeks for felts to completely dry and thus organisms from one water system, whirling disease is of particular note and its spread from system to system is a driving impetus for many jurisdictions in the US banning the use of felt soled wading boots. There is an interesting read here. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/felt.html

I should have thought about that! It makes sense, and yes, I can see it being a real issue. Think zebra mussels.

[FishALotNot]

Originally Posted by professori

...whirling disease is of particular note and its spread from system to system is a driving impetus for many jurisdictions in the US banning the use of felt soled wading boots.

Not just in the US - Parks Canada has banned the use of felt-soled wading boots in all mountain parks now, in reaction to whirling disease.
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/wat...gulations#2017