lriss aquatic invasives project - british...
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LRISSAquaticInvasivesProject
LRISSAquaticInvasivesProject-Projectnumber:COA-F17-F1198
Preparedfor:FishandWildlifeCompensationProgram
Preparedby:JacquieRasmussen,ExecutiveDirectorfortheLillooetRegionalInvasiveSpeciesSociety
PreparedwithfinancialsupportoftheFishandWildlifeCompensationProgramonbehalfofitsprogrampartnersBCHydro,theProvinceofBC,FisheriesandOceansCanada,FirstNationsandpublic
stakeholders.
Date:15-January-2017
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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
IAPPSite# Location InvasiveSpecies SiteArea(Hectares)
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
IAPPSite# Location InvasiveSpecies SiteArea(Hectares)
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
301246 SetonLake YellowFlagIris 0.006
Sitethesamesizebutonly3patchesfoundwhichweremuchsmallerthisyear.
301256 SetonLake YellowFlagIris 0.0001
301281 SetonLake YellowFlagIris 0.77
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.
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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.
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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)
* indicates mandatory field - this form may be used for 2 sites, with their invasive plant surveys, and site images (if taken).
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
LRISSAquaticInvasivesProject:COA-F17-F1198
18
TreatmentForm(includesbothMechanicalandChemical–LRISSonlydidmechanicalforthisproject).
* indicates mandatory field - this form may be used for 2 sites, with their invasive plant surveys, and site images (if taken).
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