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Blog Archives
On January 20th 2021, CSISS will be hosting an Invasive Clam Stakeholder Meeting to share information regarding the recent discovery of Corbicula fluminea (also known as Asian or Golden clams) in Shuswap Lake. A live population of Corbicula fluminea, a freshwater invasive clam, was found in the Shuswap Lake in August 2020. Extent surveys were completed in September and October 2020. There is potential for this species to spread throughout the waterbody and also to other nearby waterbodies. This meeting is to inform all stakeholders about the situation so far and to encourage discussion around any potential response, including the education and outreach response required.
Invasive Clam Stakeholder Meeting Agenda
Meeting Details:
Online Zoom meeting link (See agenda for meeting link: Download the meeting agenda here)
Phone in option (if zoom not possible): +1 778 907 2071 Canada ; Meeting ID: 966 2779 9276
Date: January 20, 2021
Time: 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm PST (1.5 Hours)
Meeting Facilitator: Robyn Hooper, Executive Director, CSISS
Meeting Scribe: Sue Davies, AIS Coordinator, CSISS
Agenda:
3:00-3:15pm Welcome & Acknowledgement of indigenous lands – Robyn Hooper, CSISS
• Roundtable quiz – who’s here, affiliation, what’s your interest? (zoom poll)
• Overview of intended outcomes – Robyn Hooper, CSISS
3:15-3:30pm CSISS Aquatics Program and invasive clam survey extent findings – Sue Davies, CSISS
3:30-3:50pm Brief biology invasive clams (C. Fluminea.), Provincial response to invasive clams and discuss
potential next steps – Martina Beck / Cassandra Silverio, ENV
3:50-3:55pm Okanagan Basin Water Board perspective – James Littley, OBWB
3:55-4:25pm Questions and Open forum with guiding questions:
• How can we prevent invasive clam spread in the Shuswap and the Okanagan?
o Clean Drain Dry programs, marina and boat industry outreach, boat-ramp outreach, other ?
o What other outreach activities / target audiences could we reach out to?
• Who else can be involved/support this work?
• What other resources and/or funding is needed and could be sourced or encouraged?
4:25-4:30pm Final Comments and Closing – Robyn Hooper, CSISS
Overview and Purpose: A live population of Corbicula fluminea, a freshwater invasive clam (also known as Asianor Golden clams) was found in the Shuswap Lake in August 2020. Extent surveys were completed in September and October 2020. There is potential for this species to spread throughout the waterbody and also to other nearby waterbodies. This meeting is to inform all stakeholders about the situation so far and to encourage discussion around any potential response, including the education and outreach response required.
The meeting objectives are to:
1) Inform stakeholders of the biology, impacts and scale of the infestation
2) Discuss potential next steps for control or mitigation of impacts
3) Discuss potential education and outreach measures to prevent spread.
Your input is critical in ensuring the delivery of an effective, efficient, and coordinated invasive species program in the Columbia Shuswap. We appreciate your feedback as key partners in helping with this process. For more information, please contact CSISS at: info@columbiashuswapinvasives.org
Download the meeting agenda here
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Volunteer Planting Day at Blanket Creek Provincial Park
*Limited Spots!*
Event Details:
Date: Thursday October 22, 2020
Time: 2:00 pm -5:00 pm
Location: Blanket Creek Provincial Park, Highway 23 South
What to Bring: Shovels, rakes, gloves, water and weather appropriate clothing
Provided: Snacks and refreshments
**CSISS is implementing COVID-19 procedures for this event. Please be prepared to follow instructions regarding physical distancing and hygiene.**
Project details:
The Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society is leading a multi-year restoration project at Blanket Creek Provincial Park. The Goal of this project is to enhance and restore natural areas by re-seeding and planting indigenous plants. Blanket Creek is an area with important conservation values such as kokanee spawning habitat and ungulate winter range- your efforts will help protect valuable habitat for wildlife!
Please Contact us at 1-855-785-9333 or info@columbiashuswapinvasives.org with any questions
For Immediate Release — September 16, 2020
Survey finds live invasive freshwater clams in the Salmon Arm of the Shuswap Lake, prompts Clean Drain Dry warning.
Dead invasive freshwater clam (Corbicula fluminea) shells found on the beaches of the Shuswap Lake last year prompted a survey of the near shore area now that water levels are low enough to access the potential habitat for this species. The survey found live populations of invasive clams at two locations: Sunnybrae and Canoe Beach, and surveys are still underway. “At Sunnybrae we were finding around 20 clams per square metre of lake bed”, said Sue Davies, Aquatic Coordinator for the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society. The survey was conducted by the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society with funding from the Shuswap Watershed Council, direction from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, and assistance from the Invasive Species Council of BC Job Creation Program. The Corbicula fluminea clam is not to be confused with invasive zebra and quagga mussels (ZQM), which are not currently known in BC. Ongoing prevention and monitoring for ZQM continues in the province, along with border inspection stations for watercraft entering BC .
To avoid spreading aquatic invasive species, including these clams, to other lakes and rivers in B.C., it is important to clean, drain, dry all gear and watercraft following every use. ‘The larvae of this species are microscopic’ said Davies, ‘they could hitchhike in the smallest amount of water in your watercraft and survive to populate another lake. Please make doubly sure that you Clean, Drain, and Dry all gear and watercraft every time you leave a lake or river – even if you’re going to re-launch somewhere else in Shuswap Lake. This is an important measure for all watercraft: boats of all kinds, kayaks and canoes, paddleboards, and inflatables. Prevention is key,’
Corbicula fluminea clams have been kept as aquarium species, used as bait, and eaten by people. Any one of these uses may have resulted in dead shells or unwanted live animals being discarded into the lake and is another potential pathway for this species to have found its way into the Shuswap Lake. Never dump live animals or plants into the wild, including waterways. It is illegal to introduce an aquatic species into a body of water where it is not native, unless authorized under federal, provincial or territorial law (Federal Aquatic Invasive Species Regulation). It is illegal to possess, breed, ship or release species listed under the Controlled Alien Species Regulation.
This is the first confirmed presence of live invasive freshwater clams in the Shuswap. However, this is not the first confirmation of these clams in BC: they are known to exist in lakes in the Fraser Valley and on Vancouver Island, as well as in 38 US States and three of the Great Lakes (Erie, Michigan, and Superior). There are native mussels, such as the Oregon floater mussel and the Winged floater mussel, that can be confused with the Asian clam. The Corbicula fluminea clam shell is triangular shaped and usually less than 2.5 cm but up to 6.5 cm in length, and yellow-green to light brown in color with elevated growth rings.
The clams are small bivalve shellfish, originating in Asia. An individual can produce up to 70,000 eggs per year under optimal conditions and they can reach densities of up to 10,000-20,000 individuals per square metre of lake bed. They are filter feeders that can reduce biodiversity and food available for fish. Dense populations may have the potential to clog filters on hydro systems and water pipes, imposing costly maintenance. They are also known to harbour parasites that are harmful to humans if the clams are consumed raw.
So what can be done? Unfortunately, once established, eradication of Corbicula fluminea clams from a complex, connected waterbody is very unlikely and management methods are limited. Impacts to the system are difficult to predict and depend on several factors. The best thing you can do is prevent further spread to other lakes or rivers. Clean, Drain and Dry your gear and watercraft, and never release live animals or plants into waterways.
The Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society has also been monitoring the Shuswap for invasive Zebra and Quagga Mussels, a different invasive aquatic shellfish, and to-date, they have not been detected anywhere in BC waters.
Members of the public are asked to please report any suspected invasive species via the Provincial “Report Invasives BC” smartphone application (available for download from www.gov.bc.ca/invasive-species) and any suspected invasive zebra or quagga mussels to the Report All Poachers and Polluters hotline 1-877-952-7277.
A fact sheet for the invasive clam is available at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/plants-animals-and-ecosystems/invasive-species/alerts/asian_clam_alert.pdf
Travellers bringing watercraft to BC are encouraged to visit the provincial website, https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/invasive-mussels/bringing-your-boat-to-bc
Differences between Corbicula fluminea clams and Zebra and Quagga Mussels:
- Zebra and quagga mussels have the ability to attach to solid surfaces due to the presence of hair like structures called byssal threads this also allows them to attach to watercraft and can be easily transported over land from one body of water to another and this can result in increased impacts to infrastructure.
- The Corbicula fluminea clam lacks byssal threads and cannot attach to solid surfaces the way that zebra and quagga mussels can. Under suitable conditions the clam can reach high densities and have the ability to cause clogging of pipes and other structures affecting power plants, irrigation and water supply facilities and water treatment systems.
- Confirmed populations of Corbicula fluminea clam have been found in Southern Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland and recently in Shuswap Lake.
- Zebra and quagga mussels have not been detected in B.C. and the Provincial Invasive Mussel Defense Program’s goal is to prevent their introduction into B.C. through watercraft inspection stations, lake monitoring and education. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/
content/invasive-mussels
The Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention, management and reduction of invasive species in the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. CSISS is thankful for the generous support of the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Shuswap Watershed Council, Columbia Basin Trust, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
To learn more about invasive species in the Columbia Shuswap region please visit: https://www.columbiashuswapinvasives.org
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Threat of Invasive Mussels Continues as Domestic Travel is Encouraged
Invasive zebra and quagga mussels have been introduced into many water bodies in eastern Canada, but as yet, are not known in parts of Canada west of Manitoba. Increased domestic travel due to the pandemic could see many more infested watercraft traveling west and increasing the risk of infesting British Columbia waters.
“The only way to prevent the spread of invasive mussels is to make sure that every watercraft entering BC is inspected at a Provincial watercraft inspection station, which are run by the Conservation Officer Service,” said Sue Davies, Aquatic Coordinator for the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society (CSISS), adding “so far this season watercraft inspection stations have intercepted 10 mussel fouled watercraft”. We encourage Columbia Shuswap residents to talk to their out-of-province friends and family about the importance of watercraft inspection.
Invasive zebra (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga (D. bugensis) mussels can travel as hitchhikers on watercraft due to their ability to attach to surfaces such as boat hulls and propellers, and to their tolerance for being out of the water for many days. Invasive mussels can withstand up to 30 days out of the water and could easily survive the drive across country on either a trailered boat or a canoe.
The Provincial watercraft inspectors determine the risk level of the watercraft depending on where and when it was last in the water. “If the watercraft is determined to be low risk, then the traveler is free to go; if it is high risk, travelers may be required to have their boat decontaminated, which is free to the traveler,” said Davies. “The consequence of travelers with watercraft not stopping at an inspection station is a swift fine, and the potential to destroy BC beaches, environments, and cost BC millions every year, so best to take the few minutes to stop in, and help prevent the spread of invasive species,” she added.
Provincial watercraft inspection stations are situated mostly along BC’s southern and eastern borders. If a station is open, then it is mandatory for all travelers with watercraft, including paddleboards and canoes, to stop.
Travellers bringing watercraft to BC are encouraged to visit the provincial website, https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/invasive-mussels/bringing-your-boat-to-bc, and suspected invasive mussels should be reported to the Conservation Officer Service Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1 877 952-7277.
The BC Government’s Invasive Mussel Defence Program is responsible for inspecting all watercraft entering BC and overseeing the invasive mussel lake monitoring program to sample waterbodies for invasive zebra and quagga mussels. Local invasive species societies like the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society (CSISS) run outreach campaigns about how to prevent the spread of invasive species, and do much of the sampling of priority waterbodies in the Columbia Shuswap region as part of the Provincial lake monitoring program. So far this season, the Province has reported that all samples tested to date for invasive mussels within BC are negative. CSISS thanks the Province of BC, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, and the Shuswap Watershed Council for funding this important work.
Other aquatic invasive species such as Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) and curly pondweed (Potamogeton crispus), are already present in some BC lakes. Cleaning, draining and drying all watercraft when moving them between waterbodies will help prevent their spread within BC freshwaters.
The Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention, management and reduction of invasive species in the Columbia Shuswap Regional District. CSISS is thankful for the generous support of the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Shuswap Watershed Council, Columbia Basin Trust, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, and the Province of BC.
To learn more about invasive species in the Columbia Shuswap region please visit: https://www.columbiashuswapinvasives.org
The Invasive Mussel Defense Program has released a summer interim report.
So far 12,800 watercraft have been inspected, 74 of them were deemed high risk, and 10 were found to be mussel fouled. Of the 10 mussel fouled watercraft, all but three were referred by other agencies, i.e. Canada Border Services, or inspection stations in Alberta, Manitoba, Idaho, or Washington.
K9 officers Kilo and Major continue to work at BC inspection stations, seeking out potentially infested watercraft.
See the full report here.
Highlights:
12,800 watercraft inspected, 74 deemed to be high risk, 10 found to be mussel fouled.
Of the 10 mussel fouled boats, all but 3 were referred by other agencies (Canada Border Services, inspection stations from Alberta, Manitoba, Idaho, or Washington).
K9 officers Kilo (pictured) and Major continue to inspect boats at various stations in BC.
Monitoring BC lakes for invasive mussels began in June. 227 samples have been collected and analysed so far, no mussels have been found.
See the full report here: 2020-IMDP Summer Status Report
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