The results are in – CKISS is pleased to report that no zebra or quagga mussels (ZQM) were detected by our monitoring program this year. CKISS collected 270 plankton samples from nine waterbodies in 2020. Across BC, 954 samples were collected from 89 waterbodies All of these samples tested negative! This is great news, as … Read more
We have conducted a full field season of plant inventories, surveys, control and monitoring of key invasive species in the Central Kootenay region. Despite the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic, the CKISS team were able to put safety protocols in place that allowed invasive species fieldwork to go ahead in 2020. How has Covid-19 Impacted the … Read more
Do you love learning to identify plants, fish or insects? It doesn’t matter if you have years of experience identifying plants and animals or are a newbie, you can help us track the spread of invasive species in our region. We hope you will join us on iNaturalist! iNaturalist is a crowdsourced citizen science platform … Read more
Your Fall 2020 edition of the CKISS’n Tell newsletter is now available by clicking here. What will you find in this issue of CKISS’n Tell? 2020 Restoration Projects Covid-19 & Invasive Species Management Bullfrog and Zebra Mussel program updates What is a community weed pull? Yellow Flag Iris profile If you want to receive our … Read more
While invasive zebra and quagga mussels (ZQM) have not been found in British Columbia to date, they remain a major threat to BC waters. In other parts of North America, these mussels have caused considerable damage to hydropower stations, and municipal water supplies. The mussels can also have impacts on biodiversity, water quality, recreation, fisheries … Read more
Alison Masters and Catherine Prowse are the recipients of the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) 2020 Volunteer of the Year Award. The passionate mother daughter weed pulling duo have been volunteering with CKISS since 2007 by participating in Community Pulling Together Events at the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Centre (CVWMA). Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, … Read more
On a misty October morning students from Selkirk College’s Recreation Fish and Wildlife Program joined CKISS to remove invasive yellow flag iris from Erie Lake, a small waterbody outside of Salmo BC. Yellow Flag Iris is a “wet-footed” invasive plant that grows in ponds, ditches, wetlands and other riparian habitats. From May to July Yellow … Read more
Restoration efforts will improve wildlife habitat and fight erosion. For the second year in a row the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) organized restoration efforts at Beaver Creek Provincial park. With the help of community and youth volunteers a targeted area at Beaver Creek previously dominated by invasive plants was replanted with over 200 … Read more
For the third straight year, volunteers from the Arrow and Slocan Lakes Community Services (ASLCS) participated in a Communities Pulling Together Event organized by the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS). On October 14, participants removed invasive Scotch broom from a section of walking path in Nakusp, which is dealing with a significant infestation. Despite … Read more
Restoration efforts at the Snk’mip Marsh continued this field season. Ponds were created, native shrubs and trees were planted and invasive weeds like orange hawkweed were removed. CKISS began collaborating with the Valhalla Foundation for Ecology (VFE) on this project in 2018 when we hosted a community weed pull as part of VFE’s Opening Ceremonies … Read more
