CSISS Fall Newsletter Updates

Blanket Creek Restoration Weekend:
The first weekend of October started off with two big days of restoration work at Blanket Creek Provincial Park. The CSISS led project is a collaborative effort to rehabilitate the former gravel pit to a productive ecosystem. With great care and diligence, our team of enthusiastic volunteers planted over 300 native trees and shrubs! Huge thanks to Environment and Climate Change Canada, Habitat and Conservation Trust Fund, BC Parks, Tourism Revelstoke, Revelstoke Tree Care, Shearing Consultants, Wildsight Revelstoke and many others for their support! You can learn more about the project here:

Aquatic Invasive Species Update:

Aquatic Monitoring
CSISS has been busy throughout the summer sampling for invasive mussels and other aquatic invasive species. This season we sampled 32 sites on 13 waterbodies across the region. The final plankton samples are on their way to the lab for analysis and so far there have been no invasive mussels detected. Aquatic invasive plants are found at some of our sites, but no new infestations were discovered in 2021.

Aquatic Outreach

CSISS staff ran boater outreach events at several boat launch locations throughout the summer, instructing boaters about cleaning draining and drying their watercraft. Marina staff received information to pass on to their clients on how best to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. As students returned to school this fall, CSISS staff have resumed classroom presentations about invasive species.

Remember that Cleaning, Draining, and Drying all watercraft when moving between waterbodies and stopping at roadside Watercraft Inspection Stations helps to prevent the spread of aquatic invasives. Thank you!

CSISS wishes to thank the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, the Shuswap Watershed Council, and the Columbia Basin Trust as major supporters of our aquatic invasive species program in 2021.

Funding was also provided by the the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, BC Gaming, and Shuswap Community Foundation

Guest speakers including Chandra Moffat on biocontrol in the region and Frank Joe from Splatsin First Nation.

CSISS 2021 AGM:

Join us for our Annual General meeting October 26^th 2021, 9am- 12pm- Online.

Guest speaker presentations include:

Chandra Moffat from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada / Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada to discuss regional biocontrol topics
Frank Joe, Terretorial Lands Manager from Splatsin Title and Rights to discuss collaboration on invasive species projects.

CSISS Updates:

Financial updates and Board of Directors Election
2021 Program Overview
Terrestrial Program
Aquatic Program
Outreach Program

Please be in touch if you have any updates or questions you’d like to share at our AGM on invasive species work in the Columbia Shuswap region, or if you’re interested in joining our Board of Directors.

Event information here:
https://columbiashuswapinvasives.org/youre-invited-october-26th-csiss-agm/

Please RSVP if you haven’t already using this registration form: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZItce-oqDMtHdXFYbLGi63P83nMFTyGWRNU

Fall

It is starting to feel cooler outside with snow falling on the mountains and leaves changing color. With the change in seasons, there are many chores to do as we prepare for winter. If cleaning up the yard, or spending time in the forest, we remind you to minimize the spread of invasive species by practicing the following tips:

Yard Waste
Ensure all invasive plants are placed into a garbage bag and are disposed of carefully. Invasive species should be sorted into the household waste where it will be sent to deep burial landfill. Please do not compost in the yard or waste pile at the landfill.

Fall Firewood

When collecting and harvesting firewood please remember to Clean, Play, Go. Sourcing wood locally to prevent the spread of invasive plants and insects.

If purchasing firewood this season source firewood locally, Buy it Where you Burn It! Firewood that has been cut within 20 km from where you burn it is ideal. Firewood that is collected from over 80 km is too far.

Thank you Laura Gaster and Changing Roles at CSISS!

CSISS has been very fortunate to have the expertise of Laura Gaster (Field Operations Program Coordinator) on our team since 2015. Laura is a passionate and energetic, much-loved member of our team. She will be taking on a new role in motherhood in 2022 and we wish her all the best as she enjoys this special time. We extend our gratitude for her tireless work and her contributions to CSISS over the years and look forward to welcoming her back in 2023.

As Laura takes parental leave, we welcome Kim Kaiser our Outreach Program Coordinator into the Interim Field Operations Coordinator role. Kim joined CSISS in 2018 is a familiar face to many already and will continue to manage terrestrial plant inventory, treatment and monitoring. Jess Booth, Outreach Assistant, is training up to become CSISS’ Interim Outreach Coordinator in 2022!

Upcoming Events & Conferences

October 18^th– 22^nd – Take Me Outside Week

Education Sessions and Workshops

Begbie View Elementary Invasive Species Session

Adam’s River Salmon Society Educational Fair

Heartwood Learning Community Invasive Species session

Begbie View Elementary- Revelstoke Greenbelt

November 24th– Shuswap Trails Alliance AGM
February 15th-16th 2022 – ISCBC INVASIVES Forum & AGM

Thanks for your support!

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Published by Robyn Hooper on October 21, 2021

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