Want to help protect Kootenay Lake
from invasive species?
We are seeking community members who are interested in preventing aquatic invasive species on Kootenay Lake this fall, by learning how to identify three invasive species and then conduct shoreline surveys. The species that you will learn about and be on the look out for are invasive clams, yellow flag iris and purple loosestrife.
What is involved in being a community science volunteer with CKISS?
Participate in a half day training workshop with CKISS to learn how to ID, prevent spread and conduct surveys - early October, dates are TBD
Select a Kootenay Lake shoreline that works for you - your own lakefront property or public lands and look for invasive clams, yellow flag iris and purple loosestrife.
Report findings and data back to CKISS
Minimum of 1 survey but multiple surveys are encouraged
If this is something that interest you, please sign up below. If you have any questions about volunteering please email jjohnson@ckiss.ca.
This program is made possible with funding by the Regional District of Central Kootenay through the Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund, and support from Living Lakes Canada’s National Lake Blitz program.
Olga Hollborg and Tanmay Deshpande are the recipients of the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) 2022 Volunteer of the Year Award. Every year CKISS recognizes community members who go above and beyond to make a positive difference to their organization and the world around them.
It’s a great, free, fun, family event to raise awareness of Western Toads and other species. CKISS will be attending Toadfest this year with our outreach booth. Come see invasive American bullfrogs and more invaders.
Schedule:
Wednesday, August 17, from 4–7 p.m. PT Thursday, August 18, from 9 a.m.–noon PT
Toadfest 2022 is organized by the FWCP, BC Parks, Ministry of Forests, and the Okanagan Nation Alliance. Special thanks to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
WEAVING WITH INVASIVES : Community Weed Pull & Weaving Workshop
Learn to weave with the inert leaves of invasive yellow flag iris! We are collaborating with Neighbours United to host a FREE Community Weed Pull & Weaving Workshop event along the shores of Kootenay Lake in beautiful Nelson B.C.
We need your help digging out yellow flag iris! Yellow flag iris outcompetes native plant species and ultimately disrupts an area’s ecosystem complexity. These disturbances result in reduced habitat suitability and support for wildlife – especially for breeding, staging, and migrating waterfowl.
Immediately following the community weed pull we will move to the Rotary Shelter at Lakeside park to participate in the weaving workshop portion of the event. This short workshop will provide an introduction to the basic and universal ‘twining’ weaving technique. Each participant will weave and take home their own coaster or shallow vessel, dependent on individual speed and ability. Suitable for beginner and new weavers, join us to learn how to safely up-purpose local greenwaste.
Details
Date: Saturday September 10, 2022 Time: 10:00 am- 1:00 pm
The event is FREE but Pre-registration is required. Please click the button below if you would like to sign up for the Weaving With Invasives Event. There are only 10 spots available!
Want to know which plants to use in your garden to help nature? Want to attract pollinators and make a difference? Then this workshop is for you! Stay tuned to the CKISS website, social media and your inbox for all the details. If you want to learn more about the EcoGarden project , click here.
CKISS Outreach Booth Farmers Market
Tour 2022
September 6 - Fruitvale Farmers Market
September 17 - Castlegar Farmers Market
September 28 - Rossland Farmers Market
October 22 - Trail Farmers Market
What has the CKISS field crew been up to this year ?
So far this year, the CKISS field crew has been busy mechanically removing invasive plants, meeting with landowners, conducting inventories and working with our partners on many projects.
Here are a few of the highlights:
We have been all over the region, removing marsh plume thistle in Arrow Park, surveying for garlic mustard in Castlegar and meeting with landowners in Creston to discuss poison hemlock and wild parsnip management on their properties. If you find any of these high-priority species, please let us know by submitting an invasive species report on our website! To learn how to ID these plants check out the species profiles on the CKISS website.
The CKISS field crew has begun a large-scale inventory of invasive plants for the Regional District of the Central Kootenay (RDCK). This exciting project includes combing through RDCK properties all over the region to determine which invasive plants are in the area. The RDCK can use this information to develop future management plans to reduce the impacts of invasive plants on their properties. These sites have included fire halls, water treatment facilities, administration properties, parks and more.
CKISS field staff has had the exciting opportunity to work on local conservation and restoration properties this season. In June, CKISS spent time at the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s restoration project in Creston. The NCC enlisted CKISS’ help to control invasive species in this newly built wetland area. This area is part of the Frog Bear Conservation Corridor which is the only known breeding area for the northern leopard frog in BC. CKISS staff surveyed the area and began manual removal of invasive species that can quickly spread in freshly disturbed areas. It is such a pleasure to work on restoration projects aimed at protecting habitats of species of concern.
Stronger BC Action Team is once again rolling up their sleeves to tackle invasive species in the Central Kootenay region.
Managing invasive species can be labour-intensive! We are thrilled that for the second year in a row, Nelson is home base to a Stronger BC Action team. From the beginning of May to the end of July, the 2022 the Nelson crew have surveyed just shy of 100 sites and removed close to 4,500 kg of noxious weed throughout the CKISS invasive management areas!
*The StrongerBC program is coordinated by the Invasive Species Council of BC*
10th Year of Monitoring for invasive mussels is now underway
Zebra and quagga mussels (ZQM) pose a major threat to BC waters. In other parts of North America, these mussels have caused considerable damage to hydropower stations, and municipal water supplies. The mussels can also have impacts on biodiversity, water quality, recreation, fisheries and species at risk.
CKISS staff started to monitor our local lakes and rivers for ZQM on June 9, 2022. So far, CKISS has collected 90 plankton samples from 10 waterbodies. CKISS monitoring efforts are part of the provincial Invasive Mussel Defence Program, which aims to prevent the introduction of ZQM into B.C. To date, B.C. is still free of these invasive mussels!
How can you help?
You can help prevent the introduction of invasive mussels by practicing to clean, drain and dry your watercraft and equipment. If you are transporting a watercraft in B.C. it is mandatory to stop at all watercraft inspection stations along your route.
Any suspected invasive mussels should be reported immediately to the Conservation Officer Services Report All Poachers and Polluters: 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP).
* CKISS recognizes the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation for making a significant financial contribution to support the Preserving the Ecological Function of BC’s Freshwater Project. Partnerships are key to conserving BC’s wildlife, fish, and their habitats.
* Additional funding has also been provided by Columbia Power and Columbia Basin Watershed Network.
* We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship.
Thanks to funding from the Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund*, CKISS launched a pilot Zebra and Quagga Mussel Community Monitoring project this summer in partnership with Living Lakes Canada. Lakeshore property owners are contributing to monitoring efforts by installing substrate monitors on their docks and surveying them throughout the season for mussels. Every person helping to monitor Kootenay Lake helps prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species. Thank you!
*Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund is an innovative RDCK tax-based service that supports local conservation projects.
Be an Invasive Wise Angler! Let’s protect BC fish by working together to keep Whirling Disease out of BC!
Whirling disease is a microscopic parasite that causes skeletal deformities , causing fish to whirl in a tail-chasing behaviour and can potentially kill up to 90% of juveniles of trout, salmon and whitefish. Whirling disease has not yet been found in BC, but it has been found in neighbouring watersheds in Alberta
How can you help?
Become an Invasive Wise Angler by taking this short online course offered by the Invasive Species Council of B.C.
Never move fish or fish parts from one waterbody to another.
Use fish-cleaning stations where available or put fish parts in the local solid waste system. Do not dispose of fish, or any fish parts, in a kitchen garburator
Before moving a boat or any equipment (e.g. hip waders, life jackets, kayaks, etc.) between water bodies, be sure to follow Clean, Drain Dry protocol. Use hot water (at least 90° C) & pressure washer.
What should I do if I find a fish that is exhibiting signs of whirling disease?
Call the RAPP line 1-877-952-7277
The Bullfrog Action Team is in full swing this summer to combat the American bullfrog invasion in Creston.
The American Bullfrog Action Team (ABAT) is once again conducting surveillance and control work in order to keep the bullfrog population at bay. So far they have had a total of 103 observations, with 75 of the frogs being captured and euthanized. In comparison to 2021, up to and including august 4th there were 58 bullfrog observations made in the Creston Valley.
* The Kootenay Boundary American Bullfrog Control Effort Program is supported by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Ministry of Land, Water, and Resource Stewardship.*
Invasive Species Profile: Wild Parsnip
Pastinaca sativa L.
CKISS has been finding more and more instances of wild parsnip in the region, particularly in Creston. It has the potential to impact agriculture, livestock, biodiversity and human health. Please help stop the spread by taking a moment to learn about the plant below! If you see this plant growing outside of gardens please report to CKISS by calling 1-844-352-1160 ext. 210 or send an email to info @ckiss.ca.
Description
Grows up to 2m tall, leaves up to 40cm long. Leaves can be smooth or hairy, and reduce in size and number the higher they are up the stem.
Yellow flowers (florets) come in clusters of between and 6 and 25. Florets have five petals, which are rolled back.
Thick yellow-brown taproot
Grows in a wide variety of soil types, and moistures, but prefers dry soils with partial or full sun.
Often confused with other members of the carrot family, wild parsnip can be distinguished from cow parsnip (native) by its yellow flowers and from giant hogweed (also invasive) by its smaller size. Note that the leaves of all three of these plants contain phototoxic compounds.
Introduction and spread
Wild parsnip is the same species that is grown agriculturally, and was brought to North America for this purpose.
Commonly grown in gardens and if it escapes, could have large impacts.
Consequences of invasion
WARNING! Skin contact with leaves or stems can cause photosensitivity (photodermatitis), which can result in severe blistering when exposed to sunlight.
Leaves and stems are toxic to livestock.
Can grow in thick patches that outcompete native species.
If it is grown in a garden, it needs to be grown responsibly to avoid these negative impacts! Do not let plants flower and go to seed – seeds can attach to vehicles and ‘hitchhike’ to new areas. Become PlantWise! Choose non-invasive plants for your garden.
Mechanical
Hand pulling (using gloves and long sleeves) is effective for small patches. Mowing before the plants go to seed can prevent further spread.
All landfills within the RDCK and RDKB accept invasive plant species for free. Ensure your material is bagged in clear plastic bags and notify the attendant that you have invasive plant species. Plants must be identifiable through the bag. For more tips on responsible disposal click here.
Biological
No biocontrol currently available in BC.
Chemical
Non-specific chemical control is available, in accordance with herbicide labeling details, consult a professional by clicking here.
