lriss aquatic invasives project - british...

LRISSAquaticInvasivesProject

LRISSAquaticInvasivesProject-Projectnumber:COA-F17-F1198

Preparedfor:FishandWildlifeCompensationProgram

Preparedby:JacquieRasmussen,ExecutiveDirectorfortheLillooetRegionalInvasiveSpeciesSociety

PreparedwithfinancialsupportoftheFishandWildlifeCompensationProgramonbehalfofitsprogrampartnersBCHydro,theProvinceofBC,FisheriesandOceansCanada,FirstNationsandpublic

stakeholders.

Date:15-January-2017

LRISSAquaticInvasivesProject:COA-F17-F1198

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ExecutiveSummaryTheLillooetRegionalInvasiveSpeciesSociety(LRISS)withtheBCHydroFishandWildlifeCompensationProgramgranthascompletedthesecondyearofanAquaticInvasivesProject.ThestudyareaincludestheBridge-SetonWatersheds.AquaticinvasivespecieshavebeendetectedintheLRISSregionandtheyhavethepotentialtotakeovershorelinesoflakesandcreeks.Invasives,likeYellowFlagIris,cancreatemonoculturesalongriparianareasthatdisplacenativeplantsanddegradefishandwildlifehabitat.

Thegoalsofthisprojectincluded:1. TargetedinventoryofAndersonLakethatcouldpotentiallybethesourceofYellowFlagIristhathas

establishedinSetonLake.2. TargetedsurveyforYellowFlagIrisonTyaughtonCreek.3. RemovetheYellowFlagIrisandKnotweedsitesfromSetonandTyaughtonLakesincludingthechannelsof

PortageCreekflowingintoSetonLake.4. PartnerwithlocalstakeholdersandtheSetonLakeFirstNations(Tsal’alh)toeducateandtrainthemon

howtoidentifyaquaticinvasivesandremovethem.5. Participateinlocalcommunityeventstoeducationthegeneralpublicabouttheimpactsofinvasivesand

howtheycanstoptheirspread.Benefitstofishandwildlifeincludethefollowingmeasurablegoalsforthisproject:survey60kmofshoreline,remove20squaremetersofYellowFlagIris,andremove6squaremetersofKnotweed.

TheMinistryofForests,LandsandNaturalResourceOperations,InvasiveAlienPlantProgram’s(IAPP)surveyandtreatmenttechniqueswerefollowedforthecompletionofthisproject.Treatmentwasmechanicalinnatureandprimarilyconsistedofhanddiggingofinfestations.AnexcavatorwasusedononesiteonTyaughtonLake.Permitsandpermissionsfromprivatelandowners,MinistryofEnvironmentandtheSquamishLillooetRegionalDistrictwereobtainedforallremovalwork.

Fieldworkcompletedfortheprojectmetthefish&wildlifegoals.TheshorelineofAndersonLakewassurveyedalongwithTyaughtonCreek,whichwasover60km.Only9newinvasivesitesweredetectedasaresult.Monitoringwascompletedon13sitestreatedin2015.Nineteensitesweretreatedandcoveredjustoverahectareinsize.ThemajorityofthesesitesconsistedofYellowFlagIris(Irispseudacorus)butalsoincludedJapaneseKnotweed(Fallopiajaponica)andHimalayanBlackberry(Rubusarmeniacus).ThelargestYellowFlagIrissiteisfoundonthewestsideofSetonLakeandwascomposedof23patches.FiveLRISScrewmembersand3Tsal’alhcommunitymembersremovedthesebyhanddigging.

Anumberofoutreachmethodswereusedtoshareinformationaboutthisproject:socialmedia,newsarticle,posterandattendanceat4communityevents.TheBridgeRiverValleyCommunityAssociationstaffwasalsotrainedbyLRISStoshareinformationwithtouristsandlocalsaboutaquaticinvasivesandourproject.

Thegoalsweremetandexceededforthisproject.TheLRISScrewsremoved9,502squaremeters(m2)ofYellowFlagIris,451m2ofKnotweedand970m2ofHimalayanBlackberryalongtheshoresofSeton,AndersonandTyaughtonLakes.Basedonourmonitoringofsitestreatedlastyear,thebestwaytoremoveYellowFlagIrisistodigoutandremovealloftheroots.Eradicationofthisspeciesinourregionispossiblebythismethod.KnotweedandBlackberrytreatmentwillneedtocontinuebecauseremovalofthesespecieswilltakeyears.OurpartnershipswithFirstNationsandprivatelandownerswillfacilitatethisongoingneedfortreatment.

Recommendationsfor2017includemonitoringallsitestreatedthisyear,continuedsurveysandremovalofanyremainingpatches.OnbroadertermsourrecommendationistoimplementtheLRISSAquaticInvasiveStrategy,whichprioritizesoutreach,preventionandearlydetectionforourprogram.


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TableofContentsExecutiveSummary...................................................................................................................................................2IntroductionandBackground...................................................................................................................................4GoalsandObjectives.................................................................................................................................................4StudyArea.................................................................................................................................................................5Methods....................................................................................................................................................................5ResultsandOutcomes...............................................................................................................................................7

NewSites...............................................................................................................................................................7SitesSurveyed.......................................................................................................................................................8SitesTreated.......................................................................................................................................................10Outreach.............................................................................................................................................................12

Discussion................................................................................................................................................................13Recommendations..................................................................................................................................................14Acknowledgements.................................................................................................................................................16References&Attachments:...................................................................................................................................16ListofFiguresFigure1.MapoftheProjectArea

Figure2.PhotoofthesiltfenceandexcavatorremovingYellowFlagIrisonTyaughtonLake.

Figure3.MapofNewInvasiveSitesfoundin2016

Figure4:MapofSurveysofExistingSites

Figure5:MapofSitesTreated.

Figure6.Site301281patchesonwestsideofSetonLake.

Figure7.Site301171patchesonTyaughtonLake.

Figure8.DumptruckloadofYellowFlagIristakenfromTyaughtonLakeshoreline.

Figure9.LRISSOutreachstaffattheHistoricHaylmoreSite,GoldBridge,BC.NoticetoBridgeRiverValleyresidencesaboutinvasiveremovalonTyaughtonLake.

ListofTables

Table1.SummaryofNewSitesfoundin2016

Table2.SummaryofSitesSurveyed

Table3:SummaryofSitesTreated


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IntroductionandBackgroundTheLillooetRegionalInvasiveSpeciesSocietyhasrecognizedtheneedtoaddressaquaticinvasivesinourprogram.ThedetectionofYellowFlagIris(Irispseudacorus)andJapaneseKnotweed(Fallopiajaponica)inourregioninadditiontothethreatsofEurasianWatermilfoil(Myriophyllumspicatum)andInvasiveMussels(ZebraandQuagga)promptedLRISStoseekspecificfundingtolaunchourAquaticsprogramin2015.Ourfocusincludedandcontinuestobethreemainactivities:Preventionthroughcommunityoutreach,surveystodetectnewinfestationsandremovalofcurrentsites.WithsofewYellowFlagIrissites,ourgoalistocompletelyeradicatethisspeciesfromourregion.

Aquaticinvasivespecies,likeYellowFlagIrisandKnotweed,havethepotentialtodegraderiparianhabitatbydecreasingbankstabilityandincreasingsedimentation.Fishhabitatisatriskasaresultaswellaswaterquality.Nativeplantdiversityisreplacedbyamonocultureofinvasivespeciesthatnolongerprovideshelter,foodorhabitatforavarietyofspecies(manyofwhicharelistedintheSpeciesActionPlanlikeBats,GrizzlybearsandOwls).Invasivealienspeciesessentiallydesecrateimportantriparianandwetlandhabitatrenderingituselesstotheseimportantnativewildlifespecies.

AquaticInvasivesalsohavethepotentialtoimpactourregion’shydroinfrastructureandtourismindustry.EurasianWatermilfoil(Myriophyllumspicatum)hasinfestedOkanaganLake,NicolaLake(Merritt)andCultusLake(nearChilliwack)interferingwithrecreationalactivitieslikeboatingandswimming.Densegrowthsofmilfoildepletewateroxygenlevelsandalterthenaturalaquaticecosystems.Invasivemussels,ifintroduced,wouldsignificantlyimpactrecreationalactivities,freshwaterecosystemsandhydroinfrastructure.Themusselsrapidlyreproduceandclogwaterintakepipes.DamagesthatcouldoccurtoLakeOkanaganhavebeenestimatedtocost$42millionperyearaccordingtoanOkanaganWaterBoardStudy(Self,J.,Larratt,H.2013).ABCMinistryofEnvironmentreportestimatesdamagescouldcostBC$21millionannually(Robinson,D.etal.2014.).InvasiveMusselshavenowbeendetectedinMontanaandEmergencymeetingswereheldinDecember2016todiscussactionsthatBCmusttaketopreventthemusselsfromenteringourprovince(PNWERDecember9,2016).

GoalsandObjectivesTheprojectgoalsincludethefollowing(takendirectlyfromtheagreement):

1. TargetedinventoryofAndersonLakethatcouldpotentiallybethesourceofYellowFlagIristhathasestablishedinSetonLake.

2. TargetedsurveyforYellowFlagIrisonTyaughtonCreek.3. RemovetheYellowFlagIrisandKnotweedsitesfromSetonandTyaughtonLakesincludingthechannels

ofPortageCreekflowingintoSetonLake.4. PartnerwithlocalstakeholdersandtheSetonLakeFirstNationstoeducateandtrainthemonhowto

identifyaquaticinvasivesandremovethem.5. Participateinlocalcommunityeventstoeducationthegeneralpublicabouttheimpactsofinvasivesand

howtheycanstoptheirspread.

Benefitstofishandwildlifeincludedthefollowingmeasurablegoalsforthisproject:

• Survey60kmofshoreline.• Remove20squaremeters(m2)ofYellowFlagIris.• Remove6m2ofKnotweed.

Theremovalanderadicationoftheseinvasiveswillallowfortheregenerationofnativeriparianvegetationthatwillprovidestreambankstability,cover,foodandhabitatforahostofspecies.Streambankstabilitywillpreventsedimentationofspawningareasforfish.Nativeplantsandshrubswillprovidebreeding,coverand


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foodsourcesforbirdsandwildlife.Iftheinvasivesitesareleft,theywillcontinuetoexpandandsuppressnativevegetation.YellowFlagIrisispoisonoustohumansandwildlife.Knotweedrootscausedincreasedsedimentationbecausetherootsdonotholdsoilaswellasnativeplantsalongriparianareas.

StudyAreaThestudyareaincludestheBridge-SetonWatersheds.ThisisasignificantportionoftheLRISSoperatingarea,whichcanbeseeninthemapbelow.Theprojectareasfocusedonthetreatmentof2knownareasofYellowFlagIris:westendofSetonLakeandTyaughtonLake.AndersonLakeandTyaughtonCreekswereourtargetsforinventoryofshorelineaquaticplantspecies,primarilyKnotweedandYellowFlagIris.

Figure1.MapoftheProjectArea.

MethodsOursurveyanddatacollectionmethodsfollowedtheMinistryofForests,LandsandNaturalResourceOperation’s(MoFLNRO)InvasiveAlienPlantProgram(IAPP)protocols.ThismethodologyensuresthatanydatacollectedandenteredintothisProvincialDatabasehasthesamemethodsandcanbecomparedandanalyzedconsistently.TheIAPPmethodologycanbefoundontheirwebsiteintheIAPPReferenceGuide(https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hra/plants/RefGuide.htm).

TherewerethreetypesofIAPPsurveyscompletedinthisproject:newsites,monitoringofsites(surveyofanexistingsite)andtreatmentofasite(eitherneworexisting).AllIAPPsitesareuniquelyidentifiablebasedonageographicalpointonthelandbase.LRISScrewscollectdatausingIPadsandtheGISProApplication(App).Onanewsite,youmustplacea“pin”tocreatethisuniquepointandthenotherdataiscollectedincludinghowtogetthere,whatspeciesarepresent,thesizeoftheinfestationandsurveyorsnames(pleaserefertotheattachedformsforallofthedata).Onceaninvasivehasbeenidentifiedonsites,thenothersurveysandtreatmentscanbeaddedtothesite.Wecompletedsurveysonthesitesthatwerecreatedandtreatedin2015.Thesurveyformisthesameonethatisusedfornewsites.Themostimportantdatatocollectisthespeciespresentandthesizeoftheinfestationsothatanychangesthathaveoccurredcanbecompared.

LillooetRegionalInvasiveSpeciesSocietyRegionalBoundary

Anderson Lake

Tyaughton Lake

Seton Lake


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Thetreatmentformisalsoattached.Itisimportanttoidentifythespecies,area,percentagetreatedandthemethodoftreatment.Manyofthesitesweretreated100percentbutinsomecases,therewerepatchesthatcouldnotberemoved.OnthelargestsiteonthewestsideofSetonLaketherewereafewsitesonthenorthsideofPortageCreekthatwerealmostallunderwater.ThecrewscouldnotsafelyaccessthemtoremovethepatcheswithouteitherfallingintothecreekorrisktheYellowFlagIrisplantmaterialdislodging,flowingintothelakepotentiallycausinganewinfestation.

TheLRISScrewscollectedmoredetaileddataonthepatcheswithintheIAPPsitesforfuturemonitoringpurposes.AnewIAPPsiteisdistinguishedonlyifthereis100metersofinvasive-freespacebetweenitandaneighbouringinfestation.Onesitemightcontainnumerouspatchesandtheycanseparated,forexample,by90meters.Inordertofindthesepatchesefficientlyduringthefieldseasonandmonitortheefficacyofthetreatment,wemappedthepatcheswithintheIAPPsites.IntheResultsandOutcomessectionbelow,thereare2figuresthatshowSetonandTyaughtonIAPPsitesandtheirpatches.

Thefieldcrewsusedboatsfortheprojecttoincreaseefficiencyandsafety.TwodifferentrecreationalmotorboatswereusedforthesurveyworkonAndersonandSetonLakes.TheshorelineofAndersonLakewassurveyedfornewinvasivesitesandexistingsitesweresurveyedonSetonLake.Canoes,kayaksandarowboatwereusedonTyaughtonandSetonLakesforsurvey,removalandtransportationofcrews.

Alltreatmentofsiteswasmechanicalinnature.ThreeextracrewmembersfromtheTsal’alhFirstNation(Seton)werehiredandtrainedtoassistwiththisportionoftheproject.ThemajorityoftheYellowFlagIrissiteswereremovedbyhanddiggingwithshovelsandplacingtheplantmaterialinbags.Therewereseveralpatches,however,onTyaughtonLakethatwereremovedbyanexcavator.ThelocalcabinownersgrantedLRISSaccesstotheirprivatelandandallplantmaterialwasremovedandhauledawaybydumptruck.YellowFlagIrismaterialisveryheavybecauseofthedensetubersandwaterloggedorganicmaterialsoitwasnecessarytouseadumptrucktohaulawaythematerialremovedbyexcavator.Inordertodothisworkbyexcavator,LRISSwasgranted2permits:onebytheProvincialGovernmentthatwasaSection9UndertheBCWaterActfor“Changesinandaroundastream”andaDevelopmentPermitfromtheSquamishLillooetRegionalDistrict(SLRD,seeattached).Therewasonelargepatchwherewebuiltatemporarysiltfencetomitigatethemovementofsiltintothelakeasaresultofexcavatorwork(seeFigure2photobelow).

Figure2.PhotoofthesiltfenceandexcavatorremovingYellowFlagIrisonTyaughtonLake.


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Inadditiontothepermits,weworkedverycloselywiththeTyaughtonRatePayersAssociationaswellastheTsal’alhFirstNation.Inmid-July,anoticewasgiventoSueEckersley,theTyaughtonRatePayersPresident,tocirculatetothelakecabinownersabouttheinvasiveremoval.Thisnotification,numerouspersonalconversationsbetweenSueandthecabinownersinadditiontotheSLRDpermitwasourcommitmenttoensurethatthecommunityknewaboutourprojectandintendedwork.

ResultsandOutcomesTheactivitiesofthisprojectfollowedspecificworkwindowsduetoplantstageandreducingimpactstofishhabitat.Therewasverylimitedriskofdamagetofishhabitatduetoourremovalactivitiesbutfollowingthespecificdatesforworkwindowsreducedanyminorsiltationeffectstofishtoalmostzero.Thislistshowstheactivitiesbydate.Theactivitiesarediscussedinmoredetaillaterinthissection.

• June16:TreatmentofJapaneseKnotweedSetonLakePublicBeach• July7:YellowFlagIrisseedpodremovalonpatchesoflargestsiteonwestendofSetonLake:301281.• August3:TyaughtonLakeYellowFlagIrisTreatment,CrewsandExcavator• August4-5,8-9:SetonLakeInvasiveRemoval–CrewsremovedYellowFlagIrisandHimalayan

Blackberry• August10:SetonLakeShorelineSurvey-monitoringofirissitestreatedin2015• September19-20:AndersonLakeShorelineSurveyapproximately48kms• September23:TyaughtonCreekSurveyapproximately350meters

NewSites

Asaresultofourfieldwork,wedidfind9newinvasivesites.EightofthesesiteswereYellowFlagIrisandonewasHimalayanBlackberry.Sevenofthesesitesweretreatedandthisworkisdescribedinthetreatmentsection.Table1givesasummaryofthesesites,areaandlocation.Overall,therewas1,130m2(0.113hectare)ofnewinvasivesfound.ThelargestsitesincludedtheHimalayanBlackberryfoundonthewestsideSetonLakethathadspreadfromprivate/ReservelandandaYellowFlagIrissiteonTyaughtonCreek(319048).Thissitehasalargefootprintbutcontainsonly2patchesthatwillbetreatedin2017.Wealsosawaplantonsite319048thatcouldbePurpleLoosestrife(Lythrumsalicaria).Wewerenotabletogetcloseenoughtotheplanttomakeapositiveidentificationsowewillreturntothesitenextyear.Thecrewswillneedwadersandaboat.Site318998willalsobetreatedin2017incollaborationwiththeSeatoSkyInvasiveSpeciesCouncil(SSISC).

Table1.SummaryofNewSitesfoundin2016

IAPPSite# Location InvasiveSpecies SiteArea(Hectares)

Notes

318997 AndersonLake YellowFlagIris 0.002 Treated

318998 AndersonLakeYellowFlagIris

0.0001Nottreated–accessthroughprivateland

318999 AndersonLake YellowFlagIris 0.0001 Treated

319043 SetonLake

HimalayanBlackberry

0.07

TreatedonlyonshorelineofSetonLake.Privatelandownercontinuingtreatment.

319044 SetonLake YellowFlagIris 0.0001 Treated319048 TyaughtonCreek YellowFlagIris 0.04 Willbetreatedin2017319086 SetonLake YellowFlagIris 0.0005 Treated319089 TyaughtonLake YellowFlagIris 0.0001 Treated319090 TyaughtonLake YellowFlagIris 0.0001 Treated

Thephotobelowisamapofthenewsitelocations.Thegreendiamondsindicatethenewsitesfound.Thereare


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twositesatthewestendofAndersonLake(onlyonesymbol).

Figure3.MapofNewInvasiveSitesfoundin2016

SitesSurveyed

Intotal13sitesweresurveyedandonesitewassurveyedtwice.Intotal,therewas10,384m2(1.0384ha)ofsiteareawassurveyed.Thisincludedallofthesitesfoundinlastyear’sfieldseason(2015).AsiteonTyaughtonLakewastreatedin2015andnonewinvasiveswerefoundonthissite(301177).Thissiteisaccessedbyprivatelandandthelandownerhasbeenremovingthepatchvoluntarily.ThelargestsitesurveyedwasonthewestsideofSetonLake(301281),whichiscomposedof23patchesofYellowFlagIris.LRISScrewsusedourIPadsandtheGISProApptomapallofthesepatchesforfuturemonitoringpurposes.Thecrewsalsomappedthe5patchesfoundinsite301171onthewestsideofTyaughtonLake.Pleaserefertothetreatmentsectionformoreinformation.Figure4showsamapofthesesites.


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Table2.SummaryofSitesSurveyed


Notes

294386 SetonLakeJapaneseKnotweed

0.045Thissitewassurveyedtwiceandtreated.

294386 SetonLake

JapaneseKnotweed

0.045

Bothtimesthesiteareawasthesame–nochangetotheinfestationsize.

294387 SetonLake JapaneseKnotweed 0.0001 Treated301165 SetonLake YellowFlagIris 0.001 Treatmentslatedfor2017301167 SetonLake YellowFlagIris 0.0001 Treated

301171 TyaughtonLake

YellowFlagIris

0.154

Largestsiteonthelake.5patchesalltreated:2byexcavator,3byhanddigging.

301173 TyaughtonLake YellowFlagIris 0.001 Treated301177 TyaughtonLake YellowFlagIris 0 Noplantsfoundthisyear.301179 TyaughtonLake YellowFlagIris 0.011 Treated301246 SetonLake YellowFlagIris 0.006 Treated301256 SetonLake YellowFlagIris 0.0001 Treated301281 SetonLake YellowFlagIris 0.77 23patchestreated309403 TyaughtonLake YellowFlagIris 0.005 Treated309404 TyaughtonLake YellowFlagIris 0.0001 Treated

Figure4:MapofSurveysofExistingSites


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SitesTreated

Intotal,19sitesweretreated.Thisincludes10,923m2ofarea(1.0923ha).Table3andFigure5giveanoverviewofthesitelocationsandinformation.Over7,000kilograms(kg)ofplantmatterwastakentotheLillooetLandfillfordisposal.ThematerialfromTyaughtonLakealonewasadumptruckloadthatweighed6,360kg.YellowFlagIrishasadensematwithtubersthatarenormallywaterloggedandthisaddedtotheweightofthematerial.Therewereonly2sitesandonepatchthatwerenotcompletelyremovedaspartofthisproject.Thesewillbetargetedfornextyear.

Table3:SummaryofSitesTreated


Notes

294386 SetonLake JapaneseKnotweed 0.045 Onshoreofpublicbeach

294387 SetonLake JapaneseKnotweed 0.0001NexttocabinonIR–reducedstems.

301167 SetonLake YellowFlagIris 0.0001

301171 TyaughtonLake YellowFlagIris 0.154Sitecontains5patches.2treatedwithanexcavator.

301173 TyaughtonLake YellowFlagIris 0.001 301179 TyaughtonLake YellowFlagIris 0.011


Sitethesamesizebutonly3patchesfoundwhichweremuchsmallerthisyear.



23Patchesdugoutbyhand.Onlyonecouldnotbecompletedduetohighwater.

309391 SetonLake HimalayanBlackberry 0.027 309403 TyaughtonLake YellowFlagIris 0.005 309404 TyaughtonLake YellowFlagIris 0.0001 318997 AndersonLake YellowFlagIris 0.002 318999 AndersonLake YellowFlagIris 0.0001 319043 SetonLake HimalayanBlackberry 0.07 319044 SetonLake YellowFlagIris 0.0001 319086 SetonLake YellowFlagIris 0.0005 319089 TyaughtonLake YellowFlagIris 0.0001 319090 TyaughtonLake YellowFlagIris 0.0001


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Figure5:MapofSitesTreated.

ThelargestandmostcomplicatedsitetotreatwasonSetonLakenorthofPortageCreekinthesmallchannelsofwetlandswherethecreekenteredSetonLake(301281).Accesswasdifficultandrequiredcanoesandarowboattotransportcrewsandplantmatterbacktoaboatlaunch.Crewshadtowadeintheshallowchannelsanddigout23patchesofYellowFlagIrisandcutoutHimalayanBlackberry.PleaserefertoFigure6thatshowsallofthepatchesonthissite.The2purplesitesareBlackberryandtheyellowsymbolisthepointlocationindicatingthesiteinIAPP.Thebrownscallopcircleindicatestheonlypatchthatwecouldnotcompletelyremoveduetohighwater.

TyaughtonLakehad7sitesthatwetreatedthisyear.Site301171had5patchesandanexcavatorremoved2ofthem.InFigure7,itshowsthepatchesremovedbyexcavatorinred.Wewereabletoaccessthesepatchesthroughprivatelandwiththelandowners’approval.Aspreviouslymentioned,weinstalledatemporarysiltfenceatthelargestpatchtoreducetheadditionofsiltintothelakeduringtheremovalprocess.Adumptruckwasusedtoremovethematerialbecauseitwastooheavytoremovebypick-uptruck.


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Figure6.Site301281patchesonwestsideofSetonLake.Figure7.Site301171patchesonTyaughtonLake.

Figure8.DumptruckloadofYellowFlagIristakenfromTyaughtonLakeshoreline.

OutreachLRISSparticipatedinnumberofcommunityeventsforoutreachpurposesincludingsharinginformationaboutaquaticinvasivesandthisproject.Thefollowingisalistofthesecommunityevents&training:

• July15:HaylmoreOutreach-trainingBVRCAstaff• July23:ApricotFestivalLillooetFarmer’sMarket• July31:HaylmoreEventLRISSDisplay• August21:BridgeRiverValleySummerFestival–LRISSOutreach• August26:LRISSoutreachLillooetFarmer’sMarket

Inordertoincreaseourcapacityforoutreachonthisprojectandoverall,wepartneredwiththeBridgeRiver


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ValleyCommunityAssociation(BRVCA).TheLRISSExecutiveDirectorandanOutreachtechnicianconductedatrainingsessionwiththeBRVCAstaff.Theprimarytopicsincludedinvasivespeciesidentification,bestmanagementpracticesandtheoutreachprogramsthatLRISSdelivers.Aspartofthetrainingweexplainedourfieldwork,prioritiesandtheFWCPproject.LRISSparticipatedinseveralcommunityeventshostedbytheBRVCAinGoldBridgeandkepttheBRVCAstaffapprisedofourworkonthisproject.TheBRVCAhasavenueatahistoricminingsite,calledHaylmore,wheretheyhavetouristinformationandlocalcraftsales.Theystaffthisvenueduringthesummermonthsanditisasourceofinformationforlocalsandtourists.Thistrainingandpartnershipwasagreatwaytobuildcapacityforouroutreachprogram,extendourreachandinformresidencesabouttheFWCPproject.

Duringthesummermonths,wepostedonourSocialMedia(primarilyourFacebookpage)aboutoursuccessinremovingtheYellowFlagIris.Thepostshadatotalreachofapproximately600.

LRISSsubmittedinformationaboutthisprojecttoalocalpublicationintheBridgeRiverValleycalledtheMountainTelegraph.Aspartofavalley-wideupdate,weincludedinformationaboutoursuccessinremovinginvasivesasadirectresultofthisproject.Thispublicationhasacirculationofapproximately185.

Figure9.LRISSOutreachstaffattheHistoricHaylmoreSite,GoldBridge,BC.NoticetoBridgeRiverValleyresidencesaboutinvasiveremovalonTyaughtonLake.

DiscussionOverall,LRISSmettheshortandcontributedtothelong-termgoalsforthisproject.Asaresultofpartnershipsandotherfunders,thereweremanyefficiencieswithfieldworkandoutreach.Asmentionedpreviously,wehadpartnershipswiththeBVRCA,TyaughtonRatepayersandtheTsal’alhFirstNations.FundingfromtheSLRD,BCGamingandMoFLNROallowedustodeliveroutreachthatincludedsharinginformationaboutthisproject.ThreeTsal’alhFirstNationsmemberswerehiredforfieldworkasadirectresultofourpartnershipwiththeTsal’alhFirstNationandLRISSTechnicianBradOleman.

Inthefield,LRISScrewsremovedmoreareaofinvasivesthanthegoalsoutlinedandmetthegoalforthekilometersofshorelinesurveyed.Therewas451m2ofJapaneseKnotweedremoved.Thiswasonlytheabove


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groundvegetation,however.Therewas9,502m2ofYellowFlagIrisremovedand970m2ofHimalayanBlackberry.TheremovaloftheKnotweedandBlackberrywillbeanongoingprojectandwilltakemanyyearstocomplete.Therootsoftheseplantsareveryhardtodigoutandthereisriskofspreadfromsmallrhizomes.PartnershipswiththeT’it’q’etandTsal’alhcommunitieswillfacilitatethistreatment.TheseinfestationsarerightalongthewatersedgeonSetonLakeandalsonearprivateland.

ShorelinesurveysofAndersonLakeandTyaughtonCreekamountedtoapproximately49km.Therewasatleastanother11kmofshorelineonTyaughtonandSetonLakescombinedwhenthemonitoringofsiteswerecompleted.LRISSmetthegoalofsurveying60kmofshoreline.

Ofthenewsitesfoundduringthisproject,therewere3sitesthatweknowwillneedtreatmentnextyear.WewillreceiveassistancetotreatthesiteonAndersonLakefromourneighbouringinvasivegroup,theSeatoSkyInvasiveSpeciesCouncil.TheprivatelandownerwillalsotreattheBlackberrysite.OneYellowFlagIrissiteonTyaughtonCreekwillneedtobehanddugoutandtheLRISScrewswillbeabletodothisremoval.ItwasnotaccessibleatthetimeofthesurveyinSeptember.Wewillrequirewadersoraboattogettothesite.

Duringthemonitoringsurveysoftreatedsites(from2015),LRISScrewsnotedthatthepatchesofiristhatweredugouthadminimalre-sproutingandtheinfestationsizewasreduced.Thepatchesthatonlyhadthetopvegetationcuthadcompletelyregainedvigorandwerethesamesize.OursurveysconfirmedthatmechanicaltreatmentofYellowFlagIriscanbeeffectiveiftherootmassiscompletelyremoved.Knotweed,however,isnotsignificantlyaffectedbytopcuttingandremovingstemsonlybecausetherhizomatousrootsre-sprouteasily.Usingmechanicalmeans,itispossibletoeradicateirisfromourregion.Thenumberofsitesisstillrelativelyfewandthisprojecthasremovedthemajorityofthem.

Futurefundingwillbenecessarytomonitorsitestreatedandtocontinueoutreachwiththegoalofpreventingaquaticinvasives.LRISSintendstoapplyfor2017fundingfromFWCPaswellasuseotherfundsfromSLRDandtheBCGovernmentforourAquaticInvasiveProgram.Intherecommendationsectionbelow,itoutlinesour2017needsprimarilyinthefieldtomonitortreatedsites,surveyandtreat(ifneeded).LRISSwillcontinuetoseekfundingtoimplementourAISStrategy.Theplanoutlinesourentireprogrambutourhighestprioritiesincludeexpandingouraquaticinvasivespecies(AIS)outreachprogramandcompletingsurveysinthefieldtodetectanynewoutbreaks.

ThisprojectandourAISStrategycontributessignificantlytothelong-termgoalsasoutlinedforthisproject.Theyincludeconservationofhabitatandimprovingscienceandknowledge.Theremovalofinvasiveswillimprovefishandwildlifehabitatbyallowingnativespeciestoflourishandremovingthemonocultureofinvasives.Thecollectionofdataincludingriparianshorelinescontributestotheunderstandingofwhereinvasivesspeciescanestablish,vectorsforspreadandhowtopreventinvasivesinthefuture.

RecommendationsTherearetwolistsofrecommendations.Thefirstonecontainsrecommendationsspecifictothe2017fieldseason.Thesecondsetofrecommendationsismorestrategicinnaturetoincreaseawareness,buildcapacityandcontinueAISfieldsurveys.

2017FieldSeasonSpecificRecommendationsinclude:

1. ContinuedmonitoringoftheYellowFlagIrissitesthatweretreatedforanyregrowth.2. SurveyofSeton,AndersonandTyaughtonLakesfornewsitesinfutureyears.3. RemovalofYellowFlagIrissitesontheD’ArcysideofAndersonLakebytheSeatoSkyInvasiveSpecies

CouncilinpartnershipwiththeFirstNationcommunity.4. RemovaloftheYellowFlagIrissitesfoundalongTyaughtonCreekflowingoutofthelake.5. SurveyofTyaughtonCreekforanynewinvasivesbeyond2016survey.


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6. InvestigatepossiblePurpleLoosestrifesiteonTyaughtonCreek.7. RemovalofHimalayanBlackberrysitesonwestendofSetonLake.

Strategicrecommendations:

• ContinuedpartnershipwithTsal’alhFirstNationoninvasiveremovalprojectsandcommunityoutreach.Traincrewstocollectdataandremoveinvasivesintheirowncommunityandadjacentlands.

• OutreachwithTourismSectorinSetonPortageandShalalthincludingTsal’alhhotel,ChamberofCommerceCaboose,campgroundsandlocalbusinesses.

• ContinuedpartnershipwiththeBridgeRiverValleyCommunityAssociationtodelivercommunityoutreachwiththegoalofprevention.

• ContinuedpartnershipwiththeSquamishLillooetRegionalDistrictforoutreach,fundingandfieldoperations.

• ContinuepartnershipwiththeSeatoSkyInvasiveSpeciesCounciltotreatYellowFlagIrisonthewestendofAndersonLakeandbuildconnectionswithintheD’ArcyFirstNations.

• ContinuetoimplementtheLRISSAquaticInvasiveSpeciesStrategy&ActionPlan.


16

AcknowledgementsSpecialthankstothefollowingorganizationsforthesupportofourproject:

• TheFishandWildlifeCompensationProgramforfinancialsupport.• SetonLake–Tsal’alhFirstNationwroteusasupportletterfortheapplicationprocess.• SueEckersleyandtheTyaughtonLakeRatePayersfortheirsupport,volunteertimeandexcavator

expertisefortheTyaughtonLakeremoval.• SquamishLillooetRegionalDistrictAreaAandBinadditiontoBCGamingprovidedfinancialsupportfor

eventparticipationtoshareinformationaboutthisproject.• BridgeRiverValleyCommunityAssociationprovidedasupportletterforourgrantapplication.• CatherineMacCrae,MinistryofForests,LandsandNaturalResourceOperations,InvasivePlant

Specialist,RangeBranchwroteasupportletterforourgrantapplication.

References&Attachments:1. FinalStatementofAccounts:Attachedseparately.2. InvasiveAlienPlantProgramSurveyandTreatmentformsattached.3. Treatment,SurveyandInventorydatacollectedandenteredintotheMinistryofForests,Landsand

NaturalResourceOperations’InvasiveAlienPlantProgramdatabase(separateExcelspreadsheet)4. BCGovernmentNoticeofapprovaltodoworksinandaroundastreamandSLRDDevelopmentpermit

includingsignatureoflandownersforaccesstoinvasivesitesthroughtheirpropertyonTyaughtonLake(separatepdf).

Self,J.,Larratt,H.2013.LimitingtheSpreadofAquaticInvasiveSpeciesintotheOkanagan.PreparedfortheOkanaganBasinWaterBoardandtheGlenmore-EllisonImprovementDistrict,(availableonlinehttp://www.obwb.ca/fileadmin/docs/2013_obwb_ais_report.pdf);

Robinson,D.etal.2014.PreliminaryDamageEstimatesforSelectedInvasiveFaunainB.C.PreparedforEcosystemsBranch,B.C.MinistryofEnvironment.

EmergencyCalltoActionMeetings–InvasiveMusselsWesternCanadaandBCPartners.December9,2016.PacificNorthwestEconomicRegion.InvasiveCouncilofBCandAlbertaInvasiveSpeciesCouncil.MeetingSummarynotes.5pages.

RangeBranch.MinistryofForestsandRange.2010.InvasiveAlienPlantProgramReferenceGuide.


17

MinistryofForests,LandsandNaturalResourceOperationsInvasiveAlienPlantProgramDataCollectionFormsSurveyForm

* indicates mandatory field - this form may be used for 2 sites, with their invasive plant surveys, and site images (if taken).

IAPP Site & Invasive Plant Survey RecordEntered into IAPP By: Assigned Site IDs (YYYY-MM-DD): recorded on this form:

Site Created Date (YYYY-MM-DD): * Invasive Plant Survey Date (YYYY-MM-DD): * Site ID: (assigned at IAPP data entry)(only if different from Site Created Date)

Site DetailsJurisdiction: * (see reverse for choices/codes) District Lot Nr: Range Unit: Site Paper File ID:

UTM Zone: * UTM Easting: * (no initial zero) UTM Northing: * (7 digits) Site Soil Texture: coarse fine organic

Slope: Aspect: Elevation (m):Site Location (and directions how to get there): Site Comments (anything else important /useful):

Invasive Plant Survey DetailsSurvey Agency: * Employer: Surveyor(s):

Distr. Code Density Code Survey Type * Proposed ActivityCursory /Operational /Precise Man Chem Bio

C O P

C O P

C O P

Date taken (YYYY-MM-DD): *Reference No. * Perspective: * Image Comments:(see reverse for codes)

Site Created Date (YYYY-MM-DD): * Invasive Plant Survey Date (YYYY-MM-DD): * Site ID: (assigned at IAPP data entry)(only if different from Site Created Date)

Site DetailsJurisdiction: * (see reverse for choices/codes) District Lot Nr: Range Unit: Site Paper File ID:

UTM Zone: * UTM Easting: * (no initial zero) UTM Northing: * (7 digits) Site Soil Texture: coarse fine organic

Slope: Aspect: Elevation (m):Site Location (and directions how to get there): Site Comments (anything else important /useful):

Invasive Plant Survey DetailsSurvey Agency: * Employer: Surveyor(s):

Distr. Code Density Code Survey Type * Proposed ActivityCursory /Operational /Precise Man Chem Bio

C O P

C O P

C O P

Date taken (YYYY-MM-DD): *Reference No. * Perspective: * Image Comments:(see reverse for codes)

Site Image Details

Invasive Plants *Species name or code

Area *Dimension or Ha (see reverse for codes)

Invasive Plants * Area *Species name or code Dimension or Ha

Site Image Details

(see reverse for codes)


Some commonly used codes in IAPP:

Code Reference

1 1 Low ≤ 1 plant/m2

2 Medium 2-5 plants/m2

3 High 6-10 plants/m2

2 4 Dense > 10 plants/m2

3 MFR Ministry of Forests and Range

AH Alaska Highway

HYDR BC Hydro

4 BCR BC Rail

BCTC British Columbia Transmission Corp.

BNSF Burlington Northern Santa Fe

5 CNR CN Rail

CPR CP Rail

DND Department of National Defense

6 GL Grazing Lease

FN First Nations Reserves

MN Mining Companies

7 MOT Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

MOE Ministry of Environment - except Provincial Parks

MOP Municipality owned land

8 PIPE Oil and Gas Companies

PNG Pacific Northern Gas

PCAN Parks Canada

9 P Private Land

PP Provincial Parks

MRD Regional District owned land

TEL Telus

TER Terasen Gas Inc.

TRP TransCanada Pipelines

WE Westcoast Energy Inc.

Continuous dense occurrence of a species

Distribution CodeDescription

Rare individual, a single occurrence

Few sporadically occurring individuals

Single patch or clump of a species

Several sporadically occurring individuals

A few patches or clumps of a species

Several well-spaced patches or clumps of a species

Continuous uniform occurrence of well-spaced individuals

Continuous occurrence of a species with a few gaps in the distribution

Density CodeCode Reference Description

Jurisdiction Codes


18

TreatmentForm(includesbothMechanicalandChemical–LRISSonlydidmechanicalforthisproject).


Some commonly used codes in IAPP:

Code Reference

1 1 Low ≤ 1 plant/m2

2 Medium 2-5 plants/m2

3 High 6-10 plants/m2

2 4 Dense > 10 plants/m2

3 MFR Ministry of Forests and Range

AH Alaska Highway

HYDR BC Hydro

4 BCR BC Rail

BCTC British Columbia Transmission Corp.

BNSF Burlington Northern Santa Fe

5 CNR CN Rail

CPR CP Rail

DND Department of National Defense

6 GL Grazing Lease

FN First Nations Reserves

MN Mining Companies

7 MOT Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure

MOE Ministry of Environment - except Provincial Parks

MOP Municipality owned land

8 PIPE Oil and Gas Companies

PNG Pacific Northern Gas

PCAN Parks Canada

9 P Private Land

PP Provincial Parks

MRD Regional District owned land

TEL Telus

TER Terasen Gas Inc.

TRP TransCanada Pipelines

WE Westcoast Energy Inc.

Continuous dense occurrence of a species

Distribution CodeDescription

Rare individual, a single occurrence

Few sporadically occurring individuals

Single patch or clump of a species

Several sporadically occurring individuals

A few patches or clumps of a species

Several well-spaced patches or clumps of a species

Continuous uniform occurrence of well-spaced individuals

Continuous occurrence of a species with a few gaps in the distribution

Density CodeCode Reference Description

Jurisdiction Codes

lriss aquatic invasives project - british...

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