Columbia Basin Aquatic Invasive Species Team
Protecting Our Waters
Working Together to Prevent Aquatic Invasive Species:
Canadian Columbia Basin Regional Aquatic Invasive Species Program
What’s the Program?
The Columbia Basin Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program is the result of a collaborative effort between many different partners and is based on these five action areas:
Why are we doing this?
Aquatic Invasive Species are non-indigenous species that impact, or have the potential to impact, the ecology, economy, and social opportunities of the Columbia Basin. To learn more about AIS and to view profiles of species like the Zebra Mussel click here.
Who’s on the Team?
- Canadian Columbia River Inter-tribal Fisheries Commission (CCRIFC)
- Invasive Species Council of British Columbia (ISCBC)
- Ministry of Forests Lands and Natural Resources Operations (MFLRNO)
- Ministry of Environment (MOE)
- BC Hydro
- Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP)
- Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS)
- East Kootenay Invasive Species Council (EKISC)
- Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society (CSISS)
- Northwest Invasive Plant Council (NWIPC)
- Columbia Basin Watershed Network (CBWN)
- Alberta Environment and Parks
- Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA)
- Parks Canada
- BC Parks
- Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD)
- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
- Washington Invasive Species Council
- Okanagan Nation Alliance
What do we do?
Watercraft Inspection Stations
In 2015 several permanent watercraft inspection stations were strategically placed along the B.C. – Alberta border and along the B.C.- United States border. Auxiliary conservation officers check and if necessary decontaminate mussel infested boats, 7 days a week from April to October.
It is mandatory for all watercraft to stop at road side inspection stations. Watercraft includes sailboats, motorboats, car toppers, kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards being transported in BC.
To find out more about these stations click here.
How can YOU help?
Don’t Let It Loose Clean, Drain, Dry
Where are the Aquatic Invasive Species?
BC
- Columbia Basin Aquatic Invasive Species Priority List
- Aquatic and Riparian Plants: Forests, Lands and Natural Resources Operations (FLNRO)
- Algae, Amphibian, Fish, Invertebrate, Reptile
Alberta
USA
All species: Early Detection & Distribution Mapping Systems
All species: U.S Geological Survey
Multiple databases: Aquatic Invasive Species Network
Invasive Mussel Monitoring: Aquatic Invasive Species Network
Basin-wide AIS news:
2017
- 2017 BC Invasive Mussel Defense Status Report
- Boating Season Is Here Again, and so are Inspection Stations – To Protect Our Waters!
- Protecting Canada’s Best Places from Invasive Mussels
- Gillnetting Ramps Up to Curb Northern Pike in Columbia River
2016
- Vehicle blows past inspectors @ mandatory invasive mussels checkpoint
- Mussels found on boat bound for B.C. water
- Boats Intercepted with Zebra Mussels in BC