|
Home
 News Special Highlights ISCBC Mussel Workshop, Update!
|
ISCBC Mussel Workshop
Speakers at the Invasive Species Council of BC mussel workshop include (from left to right): Barry Gibbs, ISC Director; Jodi Romyn, ISC; Dr. Mark Sytsma, Portland State University; Patricia Woodruff, MOE; Brian Heise, Thompson Rivers University; Val Miller, MFLRNO; Ted Downs, MOE; Scott Higgins, DFO; and Andrew Klassen, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.
The ISCBC recently held a zebra and quagga mussel workshop in Kelowna, BC on October 19th. Discussions were lead by aquatic specialists from Portland State University, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Ministry of Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, the Ministry of Environment, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
The workshop attracted over 40 Individuals from across British Columbia, from federal, provincial, and local governments, to non-profit organizations, industry and interested citizens.
There was full consensus at the workshop that the number one goal is to prevent zebra and quagga mussels from entering into BC. This will require a combination of actions including building partnerships and tools that supports inspections, and closure at international boarders. The need for proactive work in BC to ensure that infested boats do not enter BC’s lakes and streams is also critical, especially while boarder tools and regulations are being developed.
Participants of the workshop created an Action Plan for the next 3 years, calling for increased collaboration, leadership and action in preventing the introduction of these species into BC.
“Our crew has finished their work at Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site and Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. I want to thank you, on behalf of Parks Canada, for providing the crew to us. They were well-trained and got a lot of important restoration work done in our nationally-important heritage areas.”
Brian Reader, Species at Risk Manager, Parks Canada
“Thank you for orchestrating access to the Hot Spots crew for GINPR. This crew allowed us to move the restoration project on Princess Margaret ahead by months if not by years.”
Wayne Bourque, Superintendent of Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, Parks Canada
"We had a great hike at Kenna Cartwright Park. The kids built a snowman and we all enjoyed the views. The outreach worker showed us some plants that don't belong in the park, gave us info about them and what to do about them, and gave us all some cool gifts from the Invasive Plant Council. Thank you!"
Susan Hammond, Kamloops Young Naturalist Club
“I am impressed with the coverage of the GIS mapping data now available. I will be developing an Invasive Species Management Plan for Pacific Spirit over the next several years and these maps will help as a coarse indication of current conditions, and in guiding initial inventory and monitoring efforts.”
Markus Merkens, Pacific Spirit Park area manager, Metro Vancouver
“Parks Canada and Canadians have benefited from the partnership to have on-the-ground Hot Spots crews, and we would be happy to work with a crew in the future at one of our many national parks and national historic sites that are in need of invasive plant management.”
Brian Reader, Species at Risk Manager, Parks Canada
“Working with the Hot Spots crew in Saanich in 2010, we practiced different methods to treat knotweed with glyphosate using the injection gun on several sites. With these skills I was able to implement Saanich's first knotweed eradication pesticide treatment program for private properties.”
Donna Wong, Environmental Stewardship Officer, District of Saanich
Website Design by Motiontide Media | Copyright 2008 - 2013 by Invasive Species Council of BC