Mid-Summer Mussel Report | Goodbye Summer Assistants | NOTICE | Looking for Funding | SURVEYS | Upcoming Events | Get in the Spotlight

That's A Wrap

EKISC would like to thank our summer assistants Katie Grady, Serena MacKay, and Emily Markholm for the time they dedicated to us this season. We would also like to thank Canada Summer Jobs for the funding to help support these positions. 

BC's Mussel Defence Program Update

As of July 31st approximately 31,000 inspections have been performed and crews have interacted with approximately 57,000 people to promote Clean, Drain, Dry. Of the total watercraft inspected, 810 have been identified as high risk, 52 decontamination orders with quarantine periods have been issued to meet the required 30-day drying time. A total of 208 decontaminations have been performed by provincial inspectors. Of the 31,000 inspections, 14 have been confirmed to have adult invasive mussels.

Read the full report here. 

IMPORTANT NOTICE: STOP WESTERN YELLOWSTRIPED ARMYWORM

The BC 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 BC 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.

What you can do:

• Larvae will take refuge under swaths or bales. Do not move or sell hay immediately after baling.
• Store bales in the field or shed for 1 - 3 weeks prior to transport to allow worms to move out or die.
• Inspect bales to ensure there are no worms before transporting or selling.
• If buying hay, inspect upon delivery to ensure there are no worms before unloading.
• Hay equipment, farm trucks and other equipment should be cleaned between farms.
• Clean hay equipment by spraying with air or water.
• Inspect equipment coming onto your property for worms.

For more information about the Western yellowstriped armyworm, visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry/agriculture-and-seafood/animal-and-crops/plant-health/western-yellowstriped-armyworm.pdf, or call the Kelowna office at (250-861-7681).

Applying for funding? Be sure to include invasive species management and prevention in your application

EKISC can help make your project and funding application more complete by offering support for invasive species prevention and management. Some projects and ideas that we've partnered on this year included:

• Boot brush kiosks and trail signage
• Weed pulls with recreational groups and school groups
• Restoration events
• Using invasive plants in art workshops
• Plant ID courses
• Field courses for professionals
• Open houses
• Operational treatments (hand pulling, herbicide, biocontrol)

If there is something you would like to include in your proposal but perhaps don't know how it will fit, please contact Jessie@ekisc.com or Kendal@ekisc.com to figure out a way for EKISC to support your invasive species management initiatives. 

EKISC is partnering for its 9th year with the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund (CVLCF) on its Strategic Invasive Plant Control of Leafy Spurge, or SIPCOLS Project.

The SIPCOLS Project has allowed EKISC to work with partners across the Columbia Valley (including the Canadian Wildlife Service and the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development) to reduce the infestation size and prevent further spread of leafy spurge. Leafy spurge, originally introduced to the Columbia Valley in the 1960's, poses a threat to grasslands, pastures, and native ecosystems due to it's ability to aggressively out-compete desirable plant species. Leafy spurge can also be toxic to livestock and wildlife if ingested at high-enough quantities, and is historically a very difficult species to manage. Due to its incredible ability to quickly spread into neighbouring areas once established, it is important to locate and treat new infestations as soon as possible, and make sure containment lines are in place. 

Funding from the CVLCF has supported both the treatment of existing leafy spurge populations, and the inventory and mapping of new infestations. This allows EKISC to make better informed decisions regarding leafy spurge management planning for the Columbia Valley. The SIPCOLS Project has not only been successful in raising awareness about leafy spurge for land managers and user groups, but has also actively worked to reduce leafy spurge populations in the region. This success would not have been possible without the generous support of CVLCF! We are also grateful for the ongoing support of the Kootenay Conservation Program in administering the CVLCF. 

YOUR HELP NEEDED: Aquatic Invasive Species Surveys for BC residents

As a member of the National Aquatic Invasive Species Committee (NAISC) BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has partnered with DFO to better understand the use and movement of aquatic animals and plants associated with aquariums, water gardens, and live food trades in Canada.

They are asking members of the public to please take the following surveys to collect basic information, such as the number and type of species in these trades in Canada, the origin, and the destination of any species being moved.

The surveys are targeted to both the industry as well as pet/aquarium/water garden owners. We would really appreciate your help with taking and sharing these surveys within the RDEK so we can ensure that BC’s voice is heard. The deadline for completing the survey is September 30th.

Aquarium: http://bit.ly/AQTDFO

Water garden: http://bit.ly/WGRTDFO

Live seafood: http://bit.ly/LSFDFO

Just For Fun

Upcoming Events

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Hello!

My name is Myra Juckers and I am a Master of Science student through the University of
Saskatchewan. I am conducting research, in partnership with Tobacco Plains Indian Band, on sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) invasion within rangelands in the East Kootenay. My research focuses on identifying mechanisms of invasion and examining best management strategies.

Sulphur cinquefoil is a perennial forb that is native to Eurasia and was introduced to North
American prior to 1900. Sulphur cinquefoil is known to live up to 10 years. It is a prolific seed producer, producing up to 6,000 seeds per plant, which are dispersed within a short distance (< 3m) of the parent plant and can remain viable in the soil for three years. Sulphur cinquefoil is a weed of particular concern in the rangelands and grasslands of the semi-arid intermountain region of the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada, forming dense and continuous stands that can dominate and outcompete native plants.

A key element of my research project is examining management practices to control sulphur cinquefoil. The management strategies that are being examined include:

1) Targeted goat grazing once per season (early June),
2) Targeted goat grazing twice per season (early June and early July),
3) Targeted goat grazing once per season with herbicide application in mid-July,
4) Targeted goat grazing twice per season with herbicide application in mid-July, and
5) Herbicide application only in mid-July.

Within each of these treatments, seeding of native rangeland species with and without fertilizer addition will also be examined. Management strategies are being implemented on rangeland in the northern reach of Tobacco Plains Indian Reserve.

To date, the first year of targeted goat grazing and herbicide treatments have been implemented and native plant seeding is scheduled to occur in early October. Targeted goat grazing and herbicide application will occur for a second season in summer 2020 to examine the effects of the management strategies between years.

A big thank you to the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program and Columbia Basin Trust for funding this research.

~ Myra Juckers