Whereas British Columbias lakes generate international tourism business totalling millions of dollars each and every year; And whereas the Zebra and Quagga mussel infestation poses a serious threat to the economic welfare of British Columbias tourism industry: Therefore be it resolved that the provincial government provide increased educational funding and increased monitoring efforts to combat the invasive mussel infestation threatening the pristine lakes of British Columbias tourism areas.
Ministry of Environment Climate Change Strategy Since its inception in 2015, the Provinces Invasive Mussel Defence Program has applied the complementary components of education and outreach, lake monitoring, and compliance and enforcement to mitigate the risks associated with the introduction of Zebra and Quagga mussels to BCs waters. Total program funding is now 4.5 million annually. This includes 2 million in partner funding from BC Hydro, Columbia Power, Fortis BC, and Columbia Basin Trust as well as the additional allocation of 2.5 million in provincial funding announced in March of this year. The Program has been expanded to ten inspection stations operating with extended hours and staffed by 65 auxiliary conservation officers who deliver education and outreach as well as carry out inspections and decontaminations. As part of the program expansion, 450,000 in new funding was provided to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation for use over the next three years to expand governments ongoing lake monitoring program for detecting potential invasive mussel larvae. The Province has also funded seven invasive species committees which will result in more lakes being sampled for Zebra and Quagga mussels. In total, the expanded lake monitoring effort will sample more than 100 lakes throughout British Columbia in the 2017 season. This funding is helping to build capacity for local stewardship groups to become involved in early detection monitoring, a critical first step in preventing invasive mussels from becoming established. During the 2016 season, the Program conducted a marketing campaign to promote aquatic invasive species prevention and Clean, Drain, Dry CDD. The campaign included a new mobile friendly website and advertising via Facebook and other social media. http:gov.bc.cainvasivemussels From June 28th to September 5th there were nearly 8,000 views of the Invasive Mussel website home page, 7 million impressions on Facebook number of times people saw a Facebook post, and 127,075 Facebook post engagements likes, comments, shares, and link clicks. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure also made numerous blog and social media posts throughout the 2016 season to educate the traveling public about the Program. In spring of 2017, the Program partnered with the Invasive Species Council of BC to host four workshops targeted at educating local marinas and the boating industry, and to develop best management practices BMPs for the boating industry on practicing CDD and how to identify high risk watercraft. The BMPs have been circulated to over 200 businesses across the Province. During winter 20162017, the Program also conducted a Province-wide mail-out to over 200 marinas and boating-related businesses to promote CDD, and to explain how to report high-risk watercraft being transported into BC. During the 2017 boating season, program staff attended multiple outreach events and tradeshows such as the Vancouver International Boat Show, BC Boat and Sportsman Show, and the Vancouver Wooden Boat Festival. The Program has resumed watercraft inspection data updates via the Conservation Officer Services bi-monthly media calls and by posting program updates on its Conservation Officer Services Facebook page. As of September 27, 2017 inspectors have interacted with more than 71,000 people this season to promote the message of Clean, Drain, Dry. Finally, as a result of the Programs ongoing partnership with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, the message of Stop Aquatic Invasive Species, Clean, Drain, Dry Your Watercraft was again being displayed on overhead highway reader board signs throughout the Province during the 2017 season to educate the traveling public about aquatic invasive species prevention. The Invasive Mussel Defence Program will continue to work with its partners, including the founding funding partners BC Hydro, Columbia Power, Fortis BC, and Columbia Basin Trust, to leverage existing investments and build new partnerships in an effort to expand outreach and lake monitoring efforts. The Program will also continue to evaluate this seasons results and key performance metrics to inform future program improvements, as the Invasive Mussel Defence Program is always looking to ensure resources and partnerships are being invested in the most effective and efficient manner possible.