Restoring Important Wildlife Habitat at Beaver Creek Provincial Park
We are leading a three-year restoration project at Beaver Creek Provincial Park in Trail to improve wildlife habitat and to reduce erosion along the creek bed. With the help of volunteers from J.L. Crowe Secondary School and Selkirk College, invasive plants were mechanically removed and the area was replanted with native trees and shrubs this past fall.
Students From Lucerne School Assist with Snk’Mip Marsh Wetland Restoration Efforts
We have collaborated with the Valhalla Foundation for Ecology (VFE) to assist with restoration efforts at the Snk’Mip Marsh Sanctuary, located at the north end of Slocan Lake. This fall, the CKISS and the VFE led a field trip at the wetland for students from New Denver's Lucerne School.
The students participated in a variety of activities to expose them to the topics of ecology, biodiversity, and invasive vs native species. Students had a chance to assist with restoration efforts by putting on their gardening gloves and planting a variety of native shrubs, plants and trees at the newly built conservation area.
Tough day at the office! On October 16, CKISS staff spent some time at Erie Lake near Salmo, British Columbia removing invasive yellow flag iris and replanting with native sedges and trees.
THANKS for your Support!
The three restoration projects listed above are funded by Environment Canada’s Eco Action Community Funding Program and Columbia Basin Trust. CKISS staff and volunteers will revisit the site in 2020 to continue with restoration activities and to monitor the establishment of this year’s planting. If you are interested in volunteering with CKISS on restoration projects and community weed pulls become a member by clicking here.
City of Nelson Partners with Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society to Remove Invasive Knotweed
The City’s Official Community Plan identifies the removal of invasive species as a goal. The City of Nelson has begun a knotweed eradication program on public lands in the coming days. The City has partnered with CKISS to identify priority locations and incorporate best management practices utilized in other jurisdictions for knotweed control.
The City hopes to lead the way in eradicating knotweed in Nelson and encourages residents who have the plant on their property to follow suit and make every effort to remove or contain it to prevent further damage. To learn more about knotweed and its removal, click here.
Is Your Marina Invasive Wise? New Denver Marina Commits to Protecting Slocan Lake
The New Denver Marina has recently partnered with the CKISS to become the first Invasive Wise Marina in the Central Kootenays to help protect Slocan Lake from the threat of invasive species.
British Columbia and the Kootenays are world-renowned for their rich aquatic environments; providing habitat for an incredible range of wildlife, and amazing opportunities for recreation and economic activity. There are many invasive species threatening B.C.’s aquatic ecosystems, with the most pressing issue being the possible introduction of zebra and quagga mussels. We are thrilled that the New Denver Marina is on board to help us prevent an invasion of mussels!
To sign up for the program please contact Laurie Frankcom lfrankcom@ckiss.ca or 1-844-352-1160 ext 208
The Planting Party at Summit Lake Provincial Park Was a Success!
A shout out to the students from Nakusp Elementary School who helped CKISS with restoration work by planting native shrubs & trees at Summit Lake Provincial Park on September 25 . It was not all hard work: we found some time to play 'prime suspects', a fun way to teach invasive species ID, and students participated in a competitive biodiversity scavenger hunt.
This field trip was made possible with support from BC Parks' Park Enhancement Fund and Columbia Basin Trust.
October is Firewood Awareness Month!
Moving firewood long distances can spread invasive forest pests hidden in or on the wood. Small bugs, eggs and tree killing diseases can be in your firewood and you may not know it. Avoid putting our beautiful forests at risk by only using firewood that has been cut locally.
Your firewood choices matter, and you can help slow the spread of these tree-killing pests! Instead of moving firewood, make one of these better choices:
Buy firewood where you’ll burn it.
Gather firewood on site when permitted.
If you brought non-local wood with you, use it first and burn completely. Next time, use only local wood.
Nominations Are Now Open for the Together in Action Milestone Awards
Deadline November 15
Do you know an organization or a person who has made significant contributions to invasive species management, education and awareness, research, or on-the-ground work in B.C.?
The Invasive Species Council of BC is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Together in Action Milestone Awards. Members of the public, staff and ISCBC Board can nominate recipients for any or all five categories. Nominations are due by November 15, 2019.
The B.C. Ministry of Agriculture has had reports of the transport and sale of cut hay infested with armyworms. The western yellowstriped armyworm is currently present only in the North Okanagan. It is not present in other parts of Interior B.C. and Coastal B.C. The B.C. Ministry of Agriculture is seeking the cooperation of all producers to prevent the spread of this serious pest from the North Okanagan to other parts of B.C. via infested hay, produce, farm equipment and trucks.
For more information about the western yellowstriped armyworm, click here, or call the Kelowna office 250-861-7681
CKISS Education Program - Fall Report
2019 Education Program Stats
12,114 reached to date at outreach events, workshops, presentations, school field trips and community weed pulls
771 subscribers to CKISS n' Tell newsletter
Social Media: 447 Facebook followers and 117 Twitter followers
CKISS is part of a nation-wide Clean, Drain, Dry program being piloted in B.C. Seven new Clean, Drain, Dry signs were provided to CKISS, who coordinated installation at Scotties Marina in Castlegar, Beaver Creek Provincial Park in Trail, Wragge Beach Recreation Site near Hills, Howser Creek Recreation Site, the New Denver Marina and the municipalities of New Denver and Kaslo.
The CKISS outreach booth was set up at 19 community events in 2019! The purpose of the outreach booth is to increase public awareness of the invasive species issues in our region and to communicate what members of society can do to prevent the spread.
We ran well-received Invasive Plant Training and Management Workshops for the following groups in 2019:
City of Nelson public works and recreation staff
City of Creston public works and recreation staff
Village of Nakusp public works staff
RDCK landfill attendants, operators and educators
RAP Park Contracting : park operators for BC Parks for Kokanee Creek, Syringa, Champion Lakes and Kootenay Lake Provincial Parks
Community weed pulls continued to be a vital part of our Education Program during the 2019 field season. We always have fun getting residents out to help us tackle an infestation. Many hands make light work!
If you have a group that would like to participate in our 'Communities Pulling Together' program in 2020 contact Laurie Frankcom.
We here at CKISS think you are never too young to be a steward of the earth! In 2019 we have reached over 1500 youth by attending family friendly community events, leading field trips, giving presentations, organizing weed pulls and offering restoration opportunities to schools and youth organizations in our area.
CKISS Aquatics Program - Fall Report
We conducted plankton and substrate sampling for invasive mussels in the West and Central Kootenay region from June until October 23. We have collected 318 plankton samples at nine water bodies. As of July 31, all plankton samples submitted to the Province for analysis have been negative for invasive zebra and quagga mussel presence. This important work is funded by the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy/Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation and Columbia Power Corporation.
We are happy to report that NO invasive yellow flag iris or fragrant water lily (pictured above) have been detected during a survey of Nancy Greene Lake!
The American bullfrog control field season has wrapped up for 2019. A team of 6 surveyed for invasive bullfrogs from May 14 to Oct 4. The crews composed of Ministry Forests, Lands, Natural Resources and Rural Developmen employees, Lower Kootenay Band members and contractors worked through the night to catch bullfrogs.
phone : 250-354-6333
email: kootenaybullfrog@gov.bc.ca
** when reporting sightings, please note where and when you
spotted/heard it and take a photo if possible.**
The CKISS attended the 6th International Columbia River Transboundary Conference in September. We collaborated with other invasive species organizations to present posters on American bullfrogs and other high priority aquatic invasive species during the three-day event.
Registration is now open for the 2019 Kootenay Lake Summit hosted by Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society on November 8. The focus of the 2019 Summit will be to provide residents with sound knowledge on the impacts climate change will have on the Kootenay Lake community and ecosystem. Come and enjoy a delicious meal, locally sourced (alcohol-free) beverages and engaging conversation! CKISS will be there as a guest speaker! For more info click here.
CKISS Operations Program - Fall Report
The operations program was very successful with help from two CKISS summer technicians, Angela and Chanel. So far, we have completed 1840 surveys across our region. Angela and Chanel completed 112 mechanical treatments. They were great additions to the team and were skilled at speaking with landowners about invasive plant management. Their contract with us, sadly is over, and we wish them the best in their future careers!
Some toxic invasive plants have been removed from our region! We were able to control poison hemlock at an elementary school and remove giant hogweed from a landowners property.
This year at the Regional Invasive Species Organizations' annual tour, we learned from Catherine Tarasoff about using benthic barriers to control yellow flag iris. We also saw a new method being tested to control knotweed using metal mesh. This method is still in the early development stages. It's great to see new invasive species management tools being developed!
In September, CKISS attended the BCWF Wetlands Institute to learn about wetland creation and restoration. The fellow participants jumped at the opportunity to remove invasive watercress from a wetland.
We will be finishing up the on-the-ground operations for the season by the end of October. Operations activities include chemical treatments, monitoring, sign retrieval and seeding. In the coming months our attention will turn to data management and report writing.
If you see an invasive species, please contact CKISS or report the sighting using the Report-An-Invasive app.
Invasive Plant Profile: Knotweed
Description
Native to eastern Asia (Japan, China, Korea).
Herbaceous perennial.
Hollow stems, similar in appearance to bamboo.
Reach 3-4 m high.
May have small cream, white or slightly pink flowers.
Reproduces vegetatively.
Adapted to moist conditions, generally shade tolerant.
Impacts
Invades roadsides, disturbed sites, wetlands, riparian areas and streambanks.
Increases erosion and sedimentation of streambanks and riparian areas.
Decreases fish habitat and has negative impacts on salmonids.
Negatively impacts infrastructure such as asphalt and house foundations by growing through them.
May decrease land value.
How is it introduced? How does it spread?
Deliberate planting by humans
Root and stem fragments - as little as 0.7 grams - can start a new plant!
Knotweed can only be effectively controlled with chemical control. Unfortunately, digging, cutting, burning or other methods have proven to be ineffective and actually can contribute to its spread; it can spread from very small fragments of its roots and stems! Mechanical control of knotweed is not recommended.
