Familiar, pervasive and unfortunately invasive, the South Okanagan is riddled with non-native tree species from far and wide, but a new project will soon be underway in Oliver to take down these arboreal interlopers and replace them with native species.
The Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society (OASISS) is seeking the support of community dock owners for a citizen science project aimed at protecting Okanagan lakes from invasive mussels.
The recent meeting of the Okanagan Basin Water Board saw discussions preeminently focus on the problem of invasive mussels, how to keep them out of Okanagan waters and what to do should they be introduced into the Okanagan basin.
Despite the alarming geographical encroachment of invasive quagga mussels only an 11 hour drive from BC’s border, another year of lake sampling indicates the Okanagan watershed remains free of invasive mussels.
Keeping invasive zebra and quagga mussels out of the lakes of the Okanagan region requires federal government support, according to the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB).