Early detection lake monitoring

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• Monitoring
• Field protocol
• Grant program
• 2025 monitoring map

Monitoring

Monitoring is critical for early detection of new invasive species incursions in B.C. and is an important first step in the Provincial Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) Plan (PDF, 3.1MB). Zebra (Dreissena polymorpha), quagga (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) and golden mussels (Limnoperna fortunei) collectively referred to as invasive mussels, are freshwater aquatic invasive species that are not currently found in B.C. but pose significant environmental and economic risks if they were to be introduced.

Learn more about zebra, quagga and golden mussels.

The B.C. government has been conducting lake monitoring for invasive mussels since 2011. B.C. is one of the many jurisdictions across North America conducting monitoring and active prevention efforts for invasive mussels.

Field protocol

The 2026 British Columbia Invasive Mussel Lake Monitoring Field Protocol (PDF, 1.8MB) details the provincial protocols used for early detection lake monitoring for invasive mussels. The protocol outlines provincial standards for the collection and preservation of water samples which are then analyzed by a designated lab for the presence of invasive mussel larvae.

Grant program

In February 2018 the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) announced a grant program in partnership with the B.C. government. The granting program is designed to fund community efforts to monitor lakes in B.C. (using the provincial protocol above) for the presence of invasive freshwater mussels. All sampling is conducted following the provincial lake monitoring field protocol and samples are sent to a designated lab for analysis.

For the 2025 season, sampling was carried out by both partner organizations and B.C. government staff from early June to September. A total of 9 grants were administered by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation with funding provided by the B.C. government and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for the collection of water samples in priority waterbodies across the province.

The grant recipients were:

• Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society (CSISS)
• Fraser Valley Invasive Species Society (FVISS)
• Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS)
• East Kootenay Invasive Species Council (EKISC)
• Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA)
• Invasive Species Council of BC (ISCBC)
• Boundary Invasive Species Society (BISS)
• Christina Lake Stewardship Society (CLSS)
• Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society (OSISS)

A total of 880 water samples were collected from 91 priority waterbodies throughout B.C. In 2025 the microscopy lab analysis of the water samples was expanded to include the golden mussel veligers. All samples tested negative for invasive mussels (golden mussel, zebra and quagga mussels). 

The B.C. government continued to pilot the use of eDNA as another detection tool for invasive mussels. In 2025 the eDNA analysis was expanded to include the assay for the golden mussel along with the assays for zebra and quagga mussels. In 2025, 160 eDNA samples were collected from 63 priority waterbodies in the province and all eDNA samples were negative for the golden mussel and zebra and quagga mussels.

The B.C. government has been working closely with other jurisdictions to take a consistent approach on how eDNA should be used for invasive mussel monitoring. The following consensus statement was developed by western provinces and states to ensure there is a consistent approach for how eDNA results will inform response actions:

“The detection of dreissenid environmental DNA (eDNA) does not, in and of itself, constitute proof of detection that a water body contains live dreissenids, but rather an indicator of likelihood that a water body was exposed to some level of live or dead dreissenid eDNA (biological matter). Detections of dreissenid eDNA, in and of itself, is insufficient to meet detection standards for classifying a water body for the presence of dreissenids.”

2025 Monitoring map

Lake monitoring for invasive mussels was performed by 9 organizations, plus provincial government staff. The participating groups for 2025 are located in the map below.