Lisa Scott and Brad Hope, Area Director Princeton rural. Mussels are quite small (shown inside the small glass block)

RDOS heard more today about invasive species in nature that are becoming a problem in the US and if we are not smart – the problem will be imported through our borders and into our lakes and water supplies.

Think invasive species like Snakehead Fish that can eat a dog or zebra and quagga mussels that can muck up the water works and the environment if not stopped.

Up till recently Lisa Scott worked in our area for the Invasive Plant society but that group has changed its name and mandate to include animal life forms that are becoming a problem. OASIS – Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species society is the new group.

Full support was given to a motion to ask the federal and provincial governments to initiate action against this problem – and not leave it to local government.

Scott says lakes in our area have all the right conditions to survive and thrive. In the US – they have fines of $250 thousand if you are caught with a snakehead fish and $100 thousand if mussels are found on your boat.

The key words to learn for boaters are CLEAN, DRAIN AND DRY – inspect your boat when coming out of the water and before going into a water body.

The RDOS will also be seeking a grant to pay the $10,000 needed for its share of work on this project.