News & Events
Please note: As of January 2011, all news and events will be posted on our blog on the home page of this website. This page shows archived news and events prior to this time.
Stop the spread: Horticulture solutions to invasive species
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Wednesday November 10th Thank you to all that attended the forum! |
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Invasive species are a growing concern in the Sea to Sky Corridor and businesses in the horticulture sector are key stakeholders.
For a full summary of the forum click here.
To view some of the most unwated horticulture plants and their alternatives in the "Grow me instead" brochure click here.
Download the opening/backgrounder presentation here.
Contact Kristina if you'd like the powerpoint version or hard copies of the Grow me instead brochure.
UBCM Resolution on invasive species
At the UBCM meeting in Whistler last week (September 2010), the following resolution on invasive species was brought forward by the district of Squamish and endorsed. What a great step forward!
B29 INVASIVE SPECIES Squamish
WHEREAS invasive plant species grow rapidly and outcompete native species, threaten public and animal safety, and have a significant environmental and financial impact on communities throughout British Columbia;
AND WHEREAS the spread of invasive plant species is the second greatest threat to global biodiversity, after habitat destruction by land clearing:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia minimize the further introduction and spread of invasive species by:
• educating the public, government agencies, and other land managers about non-native vegetation and their impacts;
• dedicating resources to government agencies for control of invasive species; and
• instituting a grants program to assist local organizations in invasive species control;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Province act as a conduit to information and sources of expertise on invasive species including identification, prevention and control.
ENDORSED BY THE LOWER MAINLAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
UBCM RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: Endorse
UBCM RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE COMMENTS:
The Resolutions Committee notes that the UBCM membership endorsed resolution 2005-B25, which called on the Province to commit the necessary resources to fund education programs on invasive species as well as to take action on new invasive plant species.
In response to the resolution, the Province referenced its role and responsibility for noxious weed management in parks and protected areas and in administering the Integrated Pest Management Act, which sets requirements for pest management plans. The Province also indicated that the Invasive Plant Council provides public education and facilitation of government and non-government members in addressing invasive weed issues. In addition, the Province highlighted its Provincial Inventory and Treatment database.
A related article in the Pique Newsmagazine is available here. I would like to mention that the article is misleading in the role the SSISC has played. The issue of invasive species has been on the radar in the Sea to Sky Corridor long before the SSISC was established. Folks like Meg Fellows (Squamish Environmental Society), Bob Brett (Whistler Biodiversity Project), Dawn Johnson and Veronica Woodruff (Stewardship Pemberton) and others are the pioneers of invasive issues and still involved.
Outreach Specialist hired
The Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council (SSISC) is working hard to stop the spread of invasive species in the communities of Lions Bay, Britannia Beach, Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, and D’Arcy. The SSISC recognizes that education and outreach is a great way to get people involved in invasive plant control and is pleased to announce, though a partnership with the Invasive Plant Council of BC, the hiring of Education and Outreach Specialist, Kimberley Armour.
Kimberley will share information on invasive plants in schools, communities, and with industries throughout the Sea to Sky corridor. A resident of Squamish, Kimberley holds an undergraduate degree in biology and a Master’s degree in environmental education and communication. She has worked on community development outreach projects in the region since moving to the area in 2005.
Armour looks forward to connecting with residents of the region and engaging them in invasive species education and control.
“Invasive species threaten the rich natural beauty of our region. To stop the spread of invasives, we need hikers, bikers, and dog walkers to tell us when they happen upon invasive plants or animals. We need gardeners and landscapers to support the planting of native species, and properly dispose of invasive plants. We need machine operators, and farmers to wash their equipment between sites, and stop giving free rides to hitchhiking seeds,” says Armour.
The SSISC is also pleased to announce, also through a partnership with the Invasive Plant Council of BC, a Special Weed Action Team (SWAT), headed by Pam Tattersfield of Britannia and Zach deJong of Squamish. This fall, the SWAT team continued the inventory and control work begun by a five member invasive Hot Spot Team. Funding for these initiatives is provided by Western Economic Diversification Canada, Community Adjustment Fund, as well as the Ministry of Community and Rural Development, Job Opportunities Program. All field work is now over for the season.
The SSISC brings together broad regional perspectives by connecting: 1) Community groups (e.g. Squamish River Watershed Society, Stewardship Pemberton, and Whistler Naturalists), 2) Local and regional government agencies (e.g. Squamish Nation, Resort Municipality of Whistler, Village of Pemberton, District of Squamish, Squamish Lillooet Regional District, and the Village of Lions Bay), 3) Provincial agencies (e.g. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, and Ministry of Transportation), and 4) Private industry (e.g. Squamish Based N&R Forest Management, Whistler Landscaping).
Invasive species are introduced to local ecosystems in a number of ways. Invasive plants such as butterfly bush or yellow flag iris are sold at local garden centers and planted in home gardens. Shoots and seeds from invasives plants are carried by animals and wind, and may hitch rides from one area to another on recreation equipment, machinery, and pets.
Invasive species have no natural predators to keep their populations in check, and once introduced, they can spread rapidly, impacting the local environment, society, and economy. Pemberton farmers may feel the impact of invasive species like common tansy, which can be toxic to grazing livestock. Local mountain bikers and anglers may notice the impact of invasive species that choke out trails and clog waterways, making them impassable. The District of Squamish may feel the impact of invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed, which can grow right through infrastructure such as roads and sewer lines. Working together is key! Contact the SSISC to become involved.
For more information on SSISC education & outreach activities contact:
Kimberley Armour,
Invasive Plant Council of BC Outreach Specialist
outreach10@invasiveplantcouncilbc.ca
604-849-0676
Hot Spots Crew update - August 6, 2010
The 5 person crew hired by the Invasive Plant Council of BC to conduct on the ground invasive work in the Sea to Sky Corridor is now half way through their contract. Highlights to date include:
Giant hogweed: Tackling all the giant hogweed sites that were reported - care needed!
Stopping blueweed in its tracks: This plant decreases wildlife and livestock forage and we now have a plan to rapidly respond to every sighting. Success story for eradication.
Scotch broom: the crew helped the Whistler Biodiversity Project to pull all Scotch broom in Whistler.
BC Parks: The northern parks (Narin Falls, Birkenhead Lake) in our area are practically invasive free! The crew will be working with Parks staff to help keep our parks pristine.
Interior invasive checkpoint: The Lillooet River Forest Service Road (Hurley) is a vector for interior invasive plants. The crew is closely monitoring where it crosses the Lillooet River - with the river acting like a containment line. Species pulled include blueweed, knapweed, yellow salsify, prickly lettuce and giant mullein.
Data freely available: All data collected is being entered into the provincial database on a weekly basis and is publicly available. To view go to the Invasive Alien Plant Program (IAPP) map display webpage. A summary report will also be available on this website in the fall.
If you're looking for more specific information, please contact us.
Giant hogweed found in Squamish - July 12, 2010
Giant hogweed (Heracleummantegazzianumcan) is one of the most toxic plants you can come across in the Sea to Sky corridor. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with enormous, dark green leaves and hollow stems with purple blotches that can reach a height of 2.5 to 5 metres when in flower. The plant is invasive (not native to this area) and reportedly brought to BC for the purposes of horticulture. Some folks south of us have said they love the majestic looking plant in their garden – but they have no idea what they really have.
The poison lies in the clear, watery sap in the leaves and stem. The sap can cause "phyto-photodermatitis", which makes the skin extremely sensitive to sunlight resulting in painful blistering and scarring of the skin, akin to third degree burns. Its effects can be felt as soon as 15 minutes after contact, when exposed skin turns red and blotchy. Painful burning blisters usually follow and scarring can last a lifetime.
Kids have been especially drawn to its large size and tend to cut the plant down and bring the hollow stem to their eyes to use as a telescope. Unfortunately the plant's sap has blinded children in some of these cases. People who come in contact with the sap should immediately wash the exposed skin with soap and warm water, keep it away from sunlight and see a doctor right away.
This plant is a large concern where it has been found in North and West Vancouver. In the Sea to Sky corridor it was originally thought to only occur in 3 small patches in Lions Bay. That changed last week when a patch was spotted by Whistler biologist Bob Brett in Squamish. The location was about 10 metres east of Highway 99, approximately 250 metres south of Depot Road under the hydro lines.
The Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council’s Hot Spot Crew is working throughout the corridor this summer to conduct invasive plant inventory and control. The Crew did an inventory of the site and reported that it looked like the hogweed was brought to the area by contaminated soil, also containing Japanese knotweed and other invasive plants. They will work over the next week to control the infestations in Lions Bay and Squamish.
Control must be conducted very carefully so as not to touch the leaves or get the sap on your skin. Waterproof clothing including gloves, boots and safety goggles need to be used. If the plants have already gone to seed, like the ones in the Sea to Sky, it is possible to simply cut the seed heads and bag them for disposal, then cut the remaining vegetation and leave on-site to decompose. It will be necessary to return to the site repeatedly over the next few years to maintain a hogweed-free site (seeds are viable for up to 15 years).
If you spot hogweed in the Sea to Sky area please take care not to come into direct contact with it and report it to the Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council (SSISC). The Council will provide guidance with removal on private property, and more information can be found here. To report a sighting or for more information contact us.
Hot Spots Field Crew - June 1, 2010
(Photo caption: Hot Spots Crew at the Pemberton Industrial Park – an invasive hotspot)
The Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council (SSISC) is pleased to announce that a crew of five has been hired by the Invasive Plant Council of BC to conduct on the ground invasive work in the Sea to Sky Corridor June through September. This team is being supervised by the SSISC and will conduct both inventory and control work in the corridor. Look for the crew tackling high priority plants like Japanese knotweed and Scotch broom in the southern part of the corridor, and knapweed and toadflax in the northern part.
Funding Background: The Invasive Plant Council of BC (IPCBC) is embarking on year two (of two) of the Hot Spots Project, which deals largely with invasive plant management across the province. The project is funded by the Provincial Government (Job Opportunities Program for underemployed resource workers) and the Federal Government (Community Adjustment Fund).
Accordingly, the IPCBC has hired one crew supervisor and four crew members in various locations around the province, including the Sea to Sky (from Lions Bay to D’Arcy), to assist with invasive plant inventories, site monitoring, control treatments and data entry. This is the same funding that allowed a crew of three to work on invasive inventory in the Squamish area during January and February this year. For more information on the provincial initiative go to IPCBC website.
Results to date: All survey information collected during the January and February inventory can be found on this page (scroll down to SWAT). This information as well as the work being done this summer can be accessed on the publicly accessible Invasive Alien Plant Program (IAPP) database hosted by the Ministry of Forest and Range. Enter the map application here and zoom in on the area you're interested in. A summary report will be posted on this website when the program is complete.
7 Day Invasive Training - May 28, 2010
This intensive training was offered by the Invasive Plant Council of BC May 12-14 &17-20, 2010. The instructors Lynne Atwood and Ernie Sellentin covered invasive plant management. The course was based in Whistler at the Squamish Lil'watCultural Centre and field trips were taken to Squamish and Pemberton.
For more photos see our FaceBook page.
Special Weed Action Team (SWAT) - January & February 2010
In January and February of 2010, the Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council (SSISC) directed and supervised a team employed by the Invasive Plant Council of BC to do invasive species inventory. The purpose of this work was to help identify the extent of the invasive threat in the Sea to Sky area. This inventory is designed to be a tool for land owners /managers/occupiers to help identify priority invasive species and areas, in order to develop or adjust invasive species management plans in coordination with other jurisdictions in the Sea to Sky. The SSISC will help coordinate these efforts so action plans are as efficient and effective as possible and provides recommendations in this document.
Download report
Appendix 1 - District of Squamish
Appendix 2 - Provincial Parks
Appendix 3 - Squamish Estuary
Appendix 4 - Forest Service Roads
Appendix 5 - Transmission Corridors
Appendix 6 - Rail Corridors
Appendix 7 - Recreation Sites
