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If you have any questions on the information presented, or require additional report data or attachments, please contact the
Ministry.
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The Lillooet Regional Invasive Species Society (LRISS) with the BC Hydro Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program
grant has completed the second year of an Aquatic Invasives Project. Aquatic invasive species have been detected in the LRISS region and they have the potential to
take over shorelines of lakes and creeks. Invasives, like Yellow Flag Iris, can create monocultures along riparian
areas that displace native plants and degrade fish and wildlife habitat.
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Author: J. Rasmussen
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Old Reference Number: COA-F17-F1198
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Old Reference System: FWCP - Fish Wildlife Compensation Program Coastal
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Date Published: Jan 2017
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Report ID: 52334
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Audience: Government and Public
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The Lillooet Regional Invasive Species Society (LRISS) with the BC Hydro Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program
grant has completed the second year of an Aquatic Invasives Project. The study area includes the Bridge-Seton
Watersheds. Aquatic invasive species have been detected in the LRISS region and they have the potential to
take over shorelines of lakes and creeks. Invasives, like Yellow Flag Iris, can create monocultures along riparian
areas that displace native plants and degrade fish and wildlife habitat.
The goals of this project included:
1. Targeted inventory of Anderson Lake that could potentially be the source of Yellow Flag Iris that has
established in Seton Lake.
2. Targeted survey for Yellow Flag Iris on Tyaughton Creek.
3. Remove the Yellow Flag Iris and Knotweed sites from Seton and Tyaughton Lakes including the channels of
Portage Creek flowing into Seton Lake.
4. Partner with local stakeholders and the Seton Lake First Nations (Tsalalh) to educate and train them on
how to identify aquatic invasives and remove them.
5. Participate in local community events to education the general public about the impacts of invasives and
how they can stop their spread.
Benefits to fish and wildlife include the following measurable goals for this project: survey 60 km of shoreline,
remove 20 square meters of Yellow Flag Iris, and remove 6 square meters of Knotweed.
The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Invasive Alien Plant Programs (IAPP) survey
and treatment techniques were followed for the completion of this project. Treatment was mechanical in
nature and primarily consisted of hand digging of infestations. An excavator was used on one site on Tyaughton
Lake. Permits and permissions from private landowners, Ministry of Environment and the Squamish Lillooet
Regional District were obtained for all removal work.
Fieldwork completed for the project met the fish & wildlife goals. The shoreline of Anderson Lake was surveyed
along with Tyaughton Creek, which was over 60km. Only 9 new invasive sites were detected as a result.
Monitoring was completed on 13 sites treated in 2015. Nineteen sites were treated and covered just over a
hectare in size. The majority of these sites consisted of Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus) but also included
Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) and Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus). The largest Yellow Flag
Iris site is found on the west side of Seton Lake and was composed of 23 patches. Five LRISS crew members and
3 Tsalalh community members removed these by hand digging.
A number of outreach methods were used to share information about this project: social media, news article,
poster and attendance at 4 community events. The Bridge River Valley Community Association staff was also
trained by LRISS to share information with tourists and locals about aquatic invasives and our project.
The goals were met and exceeded for this project. The LRISS crews removed 9,502 square meters (m2) of Yellow
Flag Iris, 451m2 of Knotweed and 970m2 of Himalayan Blackberry along the shores of Seton, Anderson and
Tyaughton Lakes. Based on our monitoring of sites treated last year, the best way to remove Yellow Flag Iris is
to dig out and remove all of the roots. Eradication of this species in our region is possible by this method.
Knotweed and Blackberry treatment will need to continue because removal of these species will take years. Our
partnerships with First Nations and private landowners will facilitate this ongoing need for treatment.
Recommendations for 2017 include monitoring all sites treated this year, continued surveys and removal of any
remaining patches. On broader terms our recommendation is to implement the LRISS Aquatic Invasive Strategy,
which prioritizes outreach, prevention and early detection for our program.
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Report Type
Subject
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Region - Thompson-Nicola |
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Vegetation - Aquatic Vegetation |
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Vegetation - Plant Ecology |
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