Okanagan Fisheries Foundation

What if invasive mussels could be detected in minutes — right at inspection stations? 🧬

Thanks to new local funding from the City of Kelowna, and grassroots Rotarian support, this made‑in‑the‑Okanagan research is gaining momentum.

💧🔬 A major funding milestone has been reached, and there’s still time to be part of the solution.

Learn how you can help protect our lakes. 👇

https://conta.cc/4vRazJ4

UBC Okanagan

Stinking piles of dead, rotting shells pile up on beaches with invasive mussels.
In Lake Winnebago, citizens report zebra mussels washing on the lakeshore in drifts, needing regular cleanup. In places like Hillside Beach, Manitoba, residents say the mussels have completely taken over their beaches. And the smell? “It’s absolutely atrocious, it’s dead fish multiplied by 2,500,” said Hillside Beach local Cheryhl Corrie.

🛑 But this doesn’t have to happen in the Okanagan.
As of this year, there are no detected invasive mussels in any B.C. or Alberta Lakes – let’s keep it that way.
👉 With mandatory boat inspections and a public awareness of the threats, we can keep invasive mussels out of our waters.👈
⚠️ Stay informed, Stay Aware, Don’t Move A Mussel.
Visit DontMoveAMussel.ca to learn more.

ꜱᴏᴜʀᴄᴇ: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2019/08/29/beach-communities-seek-solution-for-zebra-mussel-dilemma
https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/midwest/lakes-invasive-zebra-mussels-toxic/

Anglers are encouraged to register early to prepare for the 2026-27 license year.

Learn more and find links to register on the BC Government news release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026WLRS0004-000093

If B.C.’s water use fees had been on par with those in Saskatchewan, Quebec or Nova Scotia last year, the province would have collected millions more — an additional $142 million if its fees matched those in Nova Scotia.

The BC Watershed Security Coalition says that money could have been used to do long-overdue restoration work in watersheds badly damaged by the oil and gas and other industries. It is calling on the province to raise water rental fees and ensure that the money collected is invested in watershed restoration and management efforts.

“Aligning B.C.’s rates with those in other provinces would help generate much needed funding to protect and manage our water — without putting the burden on households, farmers, small businesses, or local communities,” the coalition concludes.

Read the full article online at https://bit.ly/3L8XiZC 🔗

sq̓awsitkʷ , Okanagan Dam Passage Riverwatcher is making headlines!

A couple weeks ago, InfoNews sat down with ONA Fluvial Geomorphologist Zoë Eyjolfson to talk about the new Okanagan Lake Dam fish passage and the Riverwatcher technology our team installed.

Check out the feature and learn how this innovation is helping reconnect salmon and ecosystems along the Okanagan River!

To read the full article visit our website here: https://syilx.org/sq%CC%93awsitk%CA%B7-okanagan-dam-passage-riverwatcher-is-making-headlines/

Another close call with invasive mussels….

Interprovincial Mussel Defense Teamwork in Action!

A mussel-fouled Sea Ray cruiser Boat en route to Kelowna, BC was flagged during a routine inspection in Alberta. The boat was found to be contaminated with mussels and have standing lake water in the bilge. Thanks to swift coordination between Alberta and BC teams, the vessel was redirected for full decontamination before it could reach Okanagan waters.
• Alberta inspectors initiated partial decontamination
• BC Conservation Officer Service issued a Decontamination Order and resealed the vessel
• Penticton team scheduled full decontamination for Friday
This is a prime example of provinces working together to protect our waters from invasive zebra and quagga mussels.

CALL TO ACTION:
Boaters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts — YOU are the first line of defense!
Before moving your watercraft, always Clean, Drain, and Dry.
And remember to Pull the Plug — it’s the law in BC!
Learn more about the BC Invasive Mussel Defense Program
Know the law: Pull the Plug
Together, we’re defending BC’s lakes, rivers, and ecosystems.

CleanDrainDry