The Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society is enlisting the support of community dock owners for a citizen science project aimed at protecting Okanagan lakes from invasive mussels.
The project is seeking residents who own private docks on Kalamalka, Wood, Okanagan, Skaha, and Osoyoos lakes. Volunteers will be provided with a pair of monitoring plates to attach to their docks and will be asked to check them for invasive mussels every two weeks from July through September.
Lisa Scott, executive director of OASISS, emphasizes the importance of community involvement:
“The introduction of invasive mussels would impact everyone in the Okanagan,” warns Scott. “This project offers a chance for people to actively participate in addressing an environmental issue that affects us all. Our lakes are central to our communities, and protecting them has never been more important.”
Zebra and quagga mussels have infested more than 800 lakes in North America since they were first introduced to the Great Lakes in the late 1980s. To date, there have been no reported introductions of live zebra or quagga mussels into ѻý lakes or waterways. However, the risk of contamination through watercraft remains ever-present, making early detection critical. An invasion could cause irreversible damage to lake ecosystems, water quality, recreation, tourism, and municipal water infrastructure.
OASISS has been monitoring for invasive mussels in Okanagan lakes for 12 years. This project presents a unique opportunity to expand the societyѻý monitoring efforts to areas that are currently unmonitored or publicly inaccessible.
The project is funded by the Okanagan Basin Water Board as part of its “Don’t Move A Mussel” campaign. This initiative strengthens invasive mussel monitoring in lakes and rivers throughout the Columbia Basin.
If you’re interested in participating in this citizen science project, contact oasiss@shaw.ca.
Learn more about invasive mussel threats and get prevention tips at