The fledgling Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council is branching out in its effort to identify and control invasive plant species in the corridor.
Using a recent $15,500 grant from the B.C. Ministry of Transportation (MOT), the council recently hired two contractors to carry out invasive monitoring and control in selected gravel pits and MOT rights-of-way in the corridor.
N&R Forest Management Ltd. is charged with doing invasives monitoring and control in the Squamish area, from Lions Bay to the northern District of Squamish boundary, and from Suicide Hill north through Pemberton to the height of land on the Duffey Lake Road, officials said in a statement.
Bob Brett of Snowline Ecological Research, founder of the Whistler Biodiversity Project, is doing similar work from the northern Squamish boundary to Suicide Hill, officials said.
The council, created in June, is a cooperative effort involving local and provincial governments, Stewardship Pemberton, the Whistler Naturalists and the Squamish River Watershed Society. Its mission is to identify and control species of plants that are non-native and have the potential to choke out native species, leading to a loss of biodiversity and harm to agriculture.
Kristina Swerhun, the council's coordinator, on Monday (Aug. 17) said the MOT grant is the second government grant the council has received. The first, from the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, provided funding for Swerhun's position, start-up meetings and for initial on-the-ground work - "weed pulling," according to Swerhun.
"This year we're doing less on the education side and more on-the-ground work. First we have to monitor what's around, so most of the work is for inventory, but there's some money going toward control as well."
The types of invasive species, and the problems associated with them, vary quite widely in the corridor. For example, in Pemberton the biggest problem is spotted and diffuse knapweed which, if left unchecked, can spread and choke out crops and foraging material for livestock, Swerhun said.
In Squamish the biggest problem is Japanese knotweed, which grows in disturbed areas and can choke out native plant species.
Swerhun said a lot of Brett's work for MOT is focusing on the area near the Culliton Creek (i.e. Big Orange) Bridge. That's because Japanese knotweed has been creeping up the corridor and that area is a potential gateway for the species to find its way into the Whistler region.
"That's the beachhead, especially with the Japanese knotweed," Swerhun said. "He'll also be doing other biodiversity work around the RMOW, but for this project he'll be focusing his attention down there."
Swerhun said the council has been gratified by the public's response to its creation this past spring. People have been calling to report sightings of potentially invasive, non-native plants and even animals -including certain species of frogs and such - and are encouraged to continue doing so. If you have questions or wish to make a report, please contact Swerhun at (604) 935-7665 or by email at [email protected]
