Since 2021, FOCA and the Invasive Species Centre (ISC) have partnered in a community science program called IsampleON (Invasive Species Awareness and Monitoring Program for Lakes Education Ontario), with funding from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Action is needed to protect inland lakes that are free from or at high risk of aquatic invasion.
July 2024 – the Invasive Species Awareness and Monitoring Program for Lakes Education Ontario (IsampleON) is underway for 2024, with 5 volunteer samplers on member lakes that are doing both traditional plankton haul net sampling, and eDNA water sampling for zebra mussels and spiny water flea. Stay tuned for updates!
The IsampleON program (Invasive Species Awareness Monitoring Program & Lake Education in Ontario) was launched in 2021 by FOCA and our colleagues at the Invasive Species Centre (ISC). In 2022, targeted outreach, education, and sampling continued, for invasive mussels and spiny water flea in lakes on the Canadian Shield. That year, 58 volunteers collected water samples and eDNA samples for lab analysis at ISC, and shared educational information about local invasive species prevention. Read more about the 2023 program below, and on page 16-17 of the 2024 Ontario Lake Stewards Magazine (download PDF).
We know early detection is essential to protect our lakes and rivers from the negative impacts of aquatic invaders on these key ecosystems.
In 2023 and 2024, our program has involved taking water samples for eDNA testing. What is eDNA and what can it tell us about the presence of particular species in a waterbody? Find out by downloading FOCA’s information sheet about eDNA (PDF, 2 pages)
Learn more about the program and the invaders! Share news about preventing the spread of invasive species in your association newsletter or e-news, and on social media channels.
How can you help prevent the spread of invasive species in cottage country? Some general best practices are to garden using only non-invasive plants, dispose of bait properly, buy firewood locally, and inspect and clean your boat & motor when changing water bodies (it’s the law!).
Find it. Report it. Monitor it. Prevent the Spread. This August, our Association is taking part in the IsampleON program to promote invasive species awareness, and monitor our waterways in Ontario! Learn more about the program from FOCA, here: https://foca.on.ca/isampleon/
Learn more from our program partners: https://www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/invasive-species-awareness-and-monitoring-program-for-lakes-education-in-ontario/
In 2023, FOCA selected volunteers on dozens of lakes to help collect water samples from selected waterbodies. Utilizing the latest in eDNA detection technology, this work will broaden our collective understanding of the spread of harmful invasive species. The target species for testing in 2023 was Water soldier (Stratiotes aloides). The region of greatest concern for spread, and the monitoring target for 2023, is broadly the eastern and central portions of Ecoregion 5E (roughly Ottawa through Parry Sound-Muskoka; click on the map at the side to enlarge).
June 2023 – The first program commitment is to watch the 1 hour webinar about this year’s sampling target species and protocols.
SAMPLERS: Please review the 1 hour program overview video at the side (click to enlarge and unmute the video). This includes information about the species being sampled for, eDNA, sampling protocol and more.
Thanks for being part of this volunteer citizen science effort!
Related resources:
- about Zebra mussels from our partners at ISC
- about spiny waterflea from ISC
- report a sighting of an invasive species, using EDDmapS Ontario
Environmental impacts of zebra and quagga mussels are serious. Invasive mussels filter plankton out of the water, depleting food sources for native species. Large colonies can take over fish spawning areas and beaches. Zebra and quagga mussels can reduce native mussels and increase the presence of aquatic weeds and toxic algal blooms, which can have health impacts on people, pets and native wildlife.
Please note: the following is archival material, and some links to third-party resources may no longer be active.
December 18, 2022 – FOCA’s Terry Rees spoke to CBC about eDNA and how the technology can be used to help citizens become “ecological detectives” (in French)
One 2021 program volunteer in the Township of North Kawartha got their Mayor to participate in hanging the “Help Protect our Lakes” sign at the local boat launch, to remind boaters to “Clean & Drain & Dry” to prevent spreading invasive species!
Earlier Media Coverage:
- August 6, 2021 – The Mayor of the Township of North Kawartha and Big Cedar Lake create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) about Clean, Drain, Dry on Facebook
- June 18, 2021 – IsampleON invasive species (Great Lakes Daily News)
- June 17, 2021 – video: Community-focused invasive species program (CTV News)
- June17, 2021 – IsampleON seeks community help with invasive species project (Kingston Whig Standard)
- June 16, 2021 – Sault’s Invasive Species Centre launches community focused program (CTV Northern)
- June 15, 2021 – Media Release: IsampleON (Municipality of Marmora and Lake)
- March 26, 2021 – Zebra/Quagga mussels found in moss ball products across Canada: Learn proper disposal and reporting (ISC)
For more about FOCA’s work on invasive species, visit our webpage: https://foca.on.ca/invasive-species