CSISS Midsummer News and AGM Invitation September 25th

Published by Robyn Hooper on

CSISS Midsummer Newsletter
In this edition:

  • Hitting the trails this season? what you need to know.
  • Invasives and property management
  • Preventing invasive mussels
  • Habitat restoration at McGuire Lake in Salmon Arm
  • Being Plant Wise – avoiding planting the invasives in your garden
  • Check out our outreach booth at events and street

Save the date! CSISS AGM and Special Workshop on September 25th, 2018 Sicamous District Chambers Meeting room.

Date: September 25th, 12:30pm-2:30pm AGM

Location:  Sicamous District Chambers at 446 Main Street, Sicamous
Topics: Guest Speaker from Boundary Invasive Species Society, CSISS end of season updates, and AGM including Board Election.

Optional indoor/outdoor Workshop: 9am-12pm “Invasive Species Site Rehabilitation Workshop : What to do after you remove the weeds” with Barb Stewart, Boundary Invasive Species Expert with over 20 years experience (please RSVP to register) 

Lunch and refreshments included.

To register, please fill out this online form: https://goo.gl/forms/Sg37yrPj0w8TQpTV2
Getting out on the trails can be one of the best things about summer.  Whether it is biking, horseback riding, hiking, or a simple stroll with the dog, enjoying summer outdoors is part of living in beautiful BC.Believe it or not, many invasive species are able to hitch a ride with us.  To help keep the trails in good order, it is important to prevent invasive species from infesting these natural areas.CSISS has installed Play Clean Go signs at trail heads throughout the region with attached boot brushes (that can be used on bikes too!)Keep your trails free from invasives…
  • REMOVE plants, animals & mud from boots, gear, pets & vehicle.
  • CLEAN your gear before entering & leaving the recreation site.
  • STAY on designated roads & trails.
Pick up your own boot/bike brush for a small donation at our information booths this summer!
So what’s with real estate and invasives? 
Several invasive species groups have come together to help the Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC) bring out a new resource that helps educate real estate and land use professionals about the potential issues that invasives can cause on properties.  Issues such as the presence of knotweed being considered a “latent material defect” in the property (similar to the presence of black mold) that must be disclosed by a seller.   The Real Estate and Land Use resource is an e-Learning course that realtors and others can take as part of their ongoing training.
INVASIVE MUSSEL PREVENTION & MONITORING
CSISS Executive Director Robyn Hooper stands with MLA Greg Kyllo and MP Mel Arnold at an Invasive Mussel Prevention Event in Sicamous.  Marina staff, local businesses, and the public were invited to learn about and engage with ways to prevent mussels from entering the Shuswap lake.
Testing the lakes is an integral part of the program to prevent mussels from entering BC.  It is important to continue to confirm that each lake is mussel free.  CSISS tests 23 lakes and rivers throughout the season.  The Shuswap lake is tested in 8 locations, once a month.
CSISS staff Heather Wilson (left) and Sue Davies test for invasive mussels in the Shuswap Lake
Have you got knotweed on your property?  Contact CSISS at info@columbiashuswapinvasives.org to get the best information on how to protect your property from this aggressive plant.
MCGUIRE LAKE RESTORATION
CSISS summer student Sam Legebokow restores native cattails after removing invasive Yellow Flag Iris from the banks of McGuire Lake in central Salmon Arm.
Yellow flag iris takes over lake shores due to its floating seeds. It’s fan-link structure often prevents waterfowl and turtles from accessing the wetland, and it provides no cover of food for wildlife.  Replanting native cattails is key to restoring this important  habitat.
ONE OF CANADA’S WORST INVASIVE PLANTS FOUND IN GARDEN CENTRE.
Flowering rush, one Canada’s worst 5 invasive plants and on the BC noxious weed list, has recently been seen for sale in garden centers .  Be on the watch for this aquatic species and choose to grow non-invasive plants in your garden.  Be PlantWise and choose alternatives from the Grow Me Instead booklet.
Check out our booth at events and markets this summer…
  • 31 July – Single Track six biker event
  • 4 August – Golden Information Center
  • 11 August – Sicamous Farmers Market
  • 17 August – Paddle Sport Classic – Misa Townsite
  • 17 August – Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival
  • 1 September – BC Enduro race
  • 16 September – Revelstoke Garlic Fest
  • 28 September – Lewiston Ultra run
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