Your Holiday 2024 edition of the CKISS’n Tell newsletter is now available by clicking here. As the holiday season lights up, the CKISS Holiday Newsletter is packed with festive inspiration! Here’s what you’ll find in this edition: A Holiday Poem from Our Executive Director: A heartfelt message to close out 2024. CKISS Year in Review: … Read more
It’s that time of year again! We’re excited to share our annual Year in Review with you—our digital photo album showcasing the highlights, achievements, and partnerships that made 2024 a success.As we wrap up 2024, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the funders, partners, members, and volunteers whose support drives our mission. Your … Read more
The holidays are here, and for many, a pet may seem like the perfect gift to bring joy and companionship. However, the long-term commitment of caring for a pet is often overlooked, leading to unintended consequences for both the pet and the environment. If you’re considering gifting or adopting exotic pets like turtles, rabbits, or … Read more
The Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) is raising awareness about the recent detection of whirling disease in Kootenay Lake. Three trout samples from the lake’s southern arm have tested positive for Myxobolus cerebralis, the parasite responsible for the disease, which affects juvenile fish and can severely impact freshwater ecosystems. The disease, first identified in … Read more
The Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) is thrilled to announce that all 257 water samples collected in 2024 from Kootenay region lakes and rivers tested negative for invasive zebra and quagga mussels. These results confirm that our local waterbodies remain free of these harmful aquatic invaders. CKISS conducted monitoring in waterbodies including Upper and … Read more
We’re thrilled to share the success of our pilot year for the Kootenay Broombusters Program! This year, passionate volunteers took bold strides in removing invasive Scotch broom from sensitive areas on the East Shore of Kootenay Lake and in Procter. Their efforts have sparked hope for ecosystem recovery and community resilience. Check out our video … Read more
Your Fall 2024 edition of the CKISS’n Tell newsletter is now available by clicking here. The latest issue is packed with exciting updates and opportunities to get involved in combating invasive species! Discover how you can participate. What will you find in this issue of CKISS’nTell? Restoration news: Eco Action Project and Kootenay Riparian Project Biodiversity … Read more
The new BC Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework sets an exciting direction for prioritizing our ecosystems, but to truly protect and sustain BC’s biodiversity, we need a biodiversity and ecosystem health law in place as soon as possible. A robust legislative framework will ensure that BC’s unique and precious ecosystems are preserved and restored for future generations. … Read more
As we complete the Communities Protect Freshwater Together: Riparian Restoration in the Kootenay Region Eco Action Project, we’re excited to highlight the remarkable progress made over the past three years. This initiative focused on restoring critical freshwater and riparian habitats at three sites in the Central Kootenay region: Jubilee Wetland, Hunter Siding Wetland, and Harrop … Read more
In 2024, CKISS staff and contractors undertook the important task of collecting 257 water samples from local lakes and rivers, including Upper and Lower Arrow, Kootenay, Duncan, Slocan, Summit, Whatshan Lakes, and the Columbia, Kootenay, and Slocan Rivers to monitor for the presence of invasive zebra and quagga mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena rostriformis bugenis). … Read more