Invasive Species Alerts:
Common Bugloss & Eggleaf Spurge
Please report all sightings of these
high priority plants!
Common bugloss (Anchusa officinalis) has been spotted for the first time in the CKISS region. The invasive plant was discovered in the Yahk/Kitchener area and has since been treated & surveyed. Common bugloss is not known in other parts of our region, and we need your help keeping it that way! Please keep your eyes open for this plant.
Another new invader to keep your eyes open for is eggleaf spurge (Euphorbia oblongata). It has recently been confirmed in B.C. for the first time on southern Vancouver Island. The invasive spurge inhibits the growth of nearby native plants and its sap can irritate skin.
We are asking the public to keep an eye out for these plants in the Kootenays and throughout the province and to report any suspected sightings.
BePlantWise: choose non-invasive plants for your garden
Please avoid collecting plant samples or walking through confirmed eggleaf spurge and common bugloss sites, as these activities can result in further spread.
Seeking volunteers to plant native species at Harrop Wetland. Sign up!
Get dirty and help with restoration efforts in Harrop. We are partnering with Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society (FOKLSS) to plant native vegetation at Harrop Wetland as part of FOKLSS' 2022 Harrop Wetland Enhancement Project!
Location: Harrop Wetland located on the western side of Sunshine Bay Regional Park (accessible from Erindale Road).
Dates & times to volunteer:
November 8th from 1-4pm - This is the day CKISS staff will be on site
CKISS crew removed 3840kg of invasive plants from local shorelines!
A highlight for the CKISS crew this field season was being able to spend plenty of time on Kootenay Lake working on the Kootenay Riparian Project. The crew managed to remove 3840 kg of invasive yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) from local shorelines.
Last year, the project focused on surveying the two invasive plant species, yellow flag iris and purple loosestrife. This year, the crew was able to spend time controlling these riparian species by digging them out and disposing of the plant waste responsibly. This was done by canoe, foot, and by motorboat!
These two riparian species are known to have a great impact on aquatic environments by outcompeting native plants and potentially changing water flow with their dense root systems. The control of these species helps to protect the complex ecosystem of the lake. Check out the invasive species profiles on our website for help identifying these plants. If you see either of these plants, please contact us by email info@ckiss.ca or by phone 1-(844)-352-1160.
Kootenay Riparian Invasive Plant Control was managed and delivered with financial support from the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program. www.fwcp.ca. Additional support was provided from Columbia Basin Trust.
STEMming with Invasive Species youth program kicks off in the fall of 2022
This fall the CKISS Education team has delivered our STEMming with Invasive Species Program to over 180 youth from local schools and Girl Guide groups. The hands on program educates youth on the science of invasion biology and challenges them to put their engineering skills to the test by designing and building a spongy moth trap with their team. In addition, the program teaches plant ID, data collection and mapping methodologies using digital technology in an outdoor setting.
If you have a youth group or class in our region between the ages of 10-14 who would be interested in participating in the program in the spring or fall of 2023, please reach out to the CKISS Education Program Coordinator, Laurie Frankcom, at lfrankcom@ckiss.ca, 1-844-352-1160 ext. 208.
We acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Nous remercions le Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada (CRSNG) de son soutien. We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia. This program is made possible with support from Columbia Basin Trust.
Monitoring for invasive mussels is in its 10th year, and to date, none have been detected in the region. Lake monitoring is critical for the early detection of new invasive zebra and quagga mussel (ZQM) incursions and is an important component of the Provincial Invasive Mussel Defence Program.
CKISS recognizes the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation for making a significant financial contribution to support the Preserving the Ecological Function of BC’s Freshwater Project. Partnerships are key to conserving BC’s wildlife, fish, and their habitats. Additional funding has also been provided by Columbia Power and Columbia Basin Watershed Network. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship.
CKISS 2022 field season is
coming to an end
As the field season begins to wind down, the CKISS crew is able to reflect on the many projects and activities they were able to work on. The activities spanned from inventories, public sighting verifications, mechanical treatments, landowner outreach, and more.
COMMUNITY IN ACTION Volunteers conduct surveys for riparian plants and invasive clams
Thanks to funding from the Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund*, CKISS trained community members to identify and conduct surveys for aquatic invasive clams and riparian plants purple loosestrife and yellow flag iris. Participants are now part of our Spotter's Network and have surveyed Kootenay Lake shorelines to find new infestations of these species. Every person with eyes on the ground and reporting helps prevent the spread of invasive species. Thank you!
*Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund is an innovative RDCK tax-based service that supports local conservation projects.
Invasive Species Profile:
Purple Loosestrife
Lythrum salicaria
Description
Up to 2 meters tall with several stalks covered in pinkish-purple spike-like flowers.
Flowers bloom from late June through to September.
Square 4-sided stem, lance shaped leaves that are arranged opposite from each other.
Grows in wet/riparian areas.
Introduction and spread
Introduced from Europe and Asia to the Atlantic coast of North America in the early 1800’s.
Commonly grown in gardens and if it escapes, could have large impacts.
Consequences of invasion
Forms dense stands with thick mats of roots, which degrades wetland habitats.
Decreases biodiversity.
Large infestations can clog irrigation canals, degrade farm lands and reduce forage values of adjacent pastures.
There are numerous purple loosestrife sites in the Nelson and Slocan Invasive Plant Management Areas (IPMAs), so it is considered a Contain species in those areas, and the goal is to prevent it from spreading further.
Several IPMAs in the CKISS region have very little purple loosestrife or none at all, for these areas it is considered a Regional EDRR species.
