Funding grows for UBCO invasive mussel detection project

Community support is helping move forward a U B C Okanagan research project aimed at faster detection of invasive mussels in B C waterways.

The project, led by geneticist Dr. Michael Russello, is developing a portable environmental DNA testing tool that could identify zebra, quagga and golden mussels in minutes at watercraft inspection stations.

The City of Kelowna has added new funding of $100,000 over two through the City of Kelowna U B C Okanagan Research Alliance Collaborative Research Fund, alongside earlier support from the Okanagan Basin Water Board, The Colin & Lois Pritchard Foundation, Mitacs and Rotary groups across the region.

“Key funding pieces are now in place, and the project is getting started,” the Okanagan Basin Water Board told Vernon Matters in an email.

“However, continued community support will help strengthen and expand the project’s impact.”

Researchers say the goal is to catch invasive mussels early before they spread, since once established they cannot be removed and can cause major damage to lakes, pipes, and other water systems.

Project partners are continuing to raise funds and say public donations will help complete the work, which is scheduled to continue until 2028.