The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) administers a funding program for invasive mussel monitoring in British Columbia lakes. This program was made possible by a $450,000 contribution from BC’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (ENV). In 2019, additional funds were secured by ENV through the Canada Nature Fund for Aquatic Species at Risk administered by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
For 2022 the Invasive Mussels Lake Monitoring Fund is funding 9 projects for a total of $115,579. The following organizations received funding to undertake the sampling:
For the 2021 season, the Invasive Mussels Lake Monitoring Fund funded 12 proposals for a total of $148,863. The following organizations received funding to undertake the sampling:
For the 2020 season, the Invasive Mussels Lake Monitoring Fund funded 12 proposals for a total of $148,678. The following organizations received funding to undertake the sampling:
For the 2019 season the Invasive Mussels Lake Monitoring Fund funded 12 proposals for a total of $149,395. The program includes plankton tow sampling at 150 sites on 60 lakes for a total of over 800 samples, plus installation of over 75 substrate monitors. The following organizations received funding to undertake the sampling:
The 2023 Invasive Mussels Monitoring Grant application is now closed.
The next intake for Invasive Mussel Monitoring Grant will open in December 2023
If you are interested in applying, please start by reviewing the Invasive Mussels Lake Monitoring Fund Program Guidelines.
The British Columbia Dreissenid Mussel Lake Monitoring Field Protocol December 2022, describes in detail the protocol that must be followed when collecting samples with funding from this program. The Field Protocol includes a list of priority waterbodies which must be used to select from for sampling. Please be sure to review the updated Field Protocol carefully.
BC Dreissenid Mussel Lake Monitoring Field Protocol for 2023 Sampling
If you would like to apply for funding under this program, you will need to complete Part 1 and 2 of the application package below. Please read the instructions carefully before beginning your application.
For any questions on this granting program, please contact Barb von Sacken at bvonsacken@hctf.ca or 250-940-3013. For questions specifically about the Field Protocol, please contact Martina Beck, Unit Head, Freshwater Applied Science and Programs, Aquatic Ecosystems Branch, Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship at Martina.Beck@gov.bc.ca.
Congratulations on completing the 2023 monitoring field season! Please ensure that all data is submitted to the lab before October 31st, 2023. You will also need to download, complete and submit the following reporting forms to HCTF by November 30th, 2023:
The Grant Report and lab results will be reviewed to ensure that samples were received by the lab and data was submitted in accordance with the approved plankton tow sampling plan. The Grant Report and all data must be submitted in order to receive the final payment under your grant. Please send completed forms to reporting@hctf.ca.
Congratulations on the approval of your Invasive Mussel Monitoring Grant!
Here are a few things you need to know about managing your Invasive Mussel Monitoring Grant:
Please note that your project final approval is subject to entering into a Conditional Grant Agreement with HCTF CG-Mussels-2023-SAMPLE. You will receive a notification from HCTF via DocuSign to sign your agreement electronically when it is ready. Please read your grant agreement carefully, and complete all requirements before returning to HCTF.
A Sample and Data Submission Procedures document is included as an appendix to your Conditional Grant Agreement and includes information on how to submit plankton tow samples to the lab. The procedures refer to the Chain of Custody Form for Veliger Sample Collection. This form will be emailed to proponents.
Substrate monitoring is encouraged. If you have conducted substrate sampling please fill in the Substrate Monitoring Tracking Form 2021 , and include it with your final report. The substrate monitoring form helps ensure consistent data is recorded for waterbody, location (site name), date of installation, and frequency of inspections, along with helpful information of water temperature, pH and Secchi depth.
If you have not received your forms or if anything is unclear, please contact Barb von Sacken at bvonsacken@hctf.ca or 250-940-3013.
Reminder: To ensure proper tracking of lab samples, sample site names used in the field must correspond to sample sites names approved in your sampling plan and provided to the lab.
Please note that if you have collected any additional field data that does not fit on the Chain of Custody form, please submit this information separately directly to Cassandra Silverio.
If you wish to make any changes to your sampling plan (e.g. change a sampling site), request a budget increase, or request other changes to your project, please contact Barb von Sacken at bvonsacken@hctf.ca or 250-940-3013.