The Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society has begun sampling for invasive mussels in Osoyoos Lake. From left are Captain Bob Sherwood, President Birgit Arnstein and Director Deb Sherwood, who is holding a plankton net. (Contributed photo)
The Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society (OLWQS) is holding a public event this Sunday to discuss the potential threat to Osoyoos Lake posed by invasive mussels.
The guest speaker is Chelsea Ashbrook, an aquatic invasive species inspector trained in watercraft inspection and decontamination. She’s also an auxiliary conservation officer with the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, said OLWQS President Birgit Arnstein.
“She’s going to be speaking about the biology and background of invasive zebra and quagga mussels,” said Arnstein. “She’ll also give an overview of the (provincial) invasive mussel defence program and what watercraft inspection and decontamination consist of.”
The event takes place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 9 at the Watermark Beach Resort. There will be a cash bar, as well as cheese and crackers. Admission is by donation.
Arnstein said the event will appeal to anyone who is interested in protecting the lake as well as the rest of the Okanagan waterway from a threat that would severely alter them if mussels ever arrived here.
OLWQS is a local volunteer non-profit group that conducts various water quality tests on Osoyoos Lake during the summer and tries to raise public awareness of the lake’s health.
Invasive zebra and quagga mussels have caused billions of dollars of damage in other parts of North America by encrusting themselves on water intakes, docks, bridges, boats, power infrastructure and anything else in the water. They also cover beaches with razor-sharp shells, making it impossible for swimmers to go barefoot.
The mussels are normally spread by recreational boaters who fail to properly clean, drain and dry their boats after using them in infested waterways. They have reached Manitoba and the Southwest United States but are not believed to have become established in other western Canadian provinces or the U.S. Northwest.
OLWQS started conducting two tests in early July for the presence of invasive mussels in Osoyoos Lake.
One test measures the lake’s calcium levels, which if reduced, could indicate these invasive creatures are pulling calcium from the water to grow their shells.
A second test uses a plankton net to screen the water for mussel larvae, or veligers.
Arnstein said this equipment will be on display, as well as a newly acquired Hydrolab 4, a device that automates most of the tests that OLWQS was previously conducting manually to measure water quality.
Last week was the first time the group used the Hydrolab, to conduct tests for water acidity, temperature, oxygen levels and other data.
This year OLWQS couldn’t start its testing until July due to the flooding and high water levels. They now test every second Wednesday in four locations on the lake instead of weekly in five places, as was done in past years.
Arnstein said this summer’s testing will conclude on Sept. 26.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
