Despite the smoky skies in 2021, we continued to monitor local lakes and rivers for invasive zebra and quagga mussels (ZQM) as part of the Province’s Invasive Mussel Lake Monitoring program. CKISS collected 267 samples from nine water bodies in our region from June to October. Early detection of ZQM is essential to protecting our water! In other parts of Canada, the mussels have caused considerable damage to hydropower stations and municipal water supplies. These invasive mussels can have impacts on biodiversity, water quality, recreation, fisheries, species at risk and infrastructure such as hydropower facilities and municipal water supply. CKISS has received a Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation grant, with funding provided by the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. The Ministry has received support for invasive mussel monitoring from Fisheries and Oceans Canada through the Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk.