NCC Land Stewardship Activities F18 FWCP Project No. COL-F18-W-2536-DCA

Prepared for: Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program - Columbia Crystal Klym, Columbia Region Manager 601 18th Street, Castlegar, BC V1N 2N1

Prepared by: Nature Conservancy of Canada – BC Region Richard Klafki, Program Director, Canadian Rocky Mountains #200 – 825 Broughton Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1E5

Prepared with the financial support of the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program on behalf of its program partners BC Hydro, the Province of BC, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations and public stakeholders.

Executive Summary

The purpose of the agreement NCC Land Stewardship Activities F18 (FWCP Project No. COL-F18-W- 2536-DCA) is to provide resources to enable NCC to continue restoring habitat on conservation properties in the South Selkirks and East Kootenay region of the Columbia Basin.

Three projects were undertaken as part of the “NCC Land Stewardship Activities F18” agreement, which took place between 07 July, 2017 and 30 November, 2018. Funding in the amount of $15,000 was designated to conduct ecosystem restoration activities, specifically restoration of rare dry Interior Cedar-Hemlock ecosystems on Darkwoods as described in the Property Management Plan; $15,000 of funding was allocated to invasive plant treatments on NCC properties in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Program Area; and $10,000 allocated for the wetland restoration on NCC’s Cherry Meadows property.

From the removal and management of invasive species on several NCC properties in the Canadian Rockies ecoregion to the restoration of wetland habitat and dry ICH ecosystems, the funding provided by FWCP has allowed NCC to undertake a series of tasks and measures that seek to mitigate these and other threats to the local ecology, and the ecoregion as a whole.

Nature Conservancy of Canada

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is a private non-profit organization working for the direct protection of natural habitats and wild spaces across this country. Since 1962, NCC and our partners have protected over 2.8 million acres of ecologically significant land and water for its intrinsic value and for future generations. Almost 1 million of these protected acres are located in British Columbia. It is the goal of NCC to protect, manage, and where appropriate, restore natural areas so they can sustain the ecosystems and species that define them.

Within the Columbia Basin, NCC provides protection for over 190,000 acres of land, including landscapes such as: at-risk grasslands, unusual geological formations, montane regions and precious valley bottom habitat. NCC’s properties in the Basin conserve vital habitat for several species at risk (e.g. Badger, Grizzly Gear, Mountain Caribou, Bull Trout and Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep).

Table of Contents Executive Summary ...... 2 Task 1: Invasive Plant Management: Canadian Rocky Mountain Program Area ...... 5 Introduction ...... 5 Goals & Objectives ...... 5 Study Area ...... 6 Methods ...... 6 Results ...... 6 Recommendations ...... 7 Task 2: Darkwoods Ecosystem Restoration for Rare Dry Interior Cedar-Hemlock Ecosystems ...... 8 Introduction ...... 8 Goals and Objectives ...... 8 Study area ...... 8 Methods ...... 9 Results and Outcomes...... 9 Discussion ...... 12 Recommendations ...... 12 Task 3: Cherry Meadows Wetland Restoration Project ...... 13 Introduction ...... 13 Goals & Objectives ...... 13 Study Area ...... 13 Map ...... 14 Methods ...... 14 Results ...... 14 Recommendations ...... 15 References ...... 16 Acknowledgements ...... 16 Appendix: The Nature Conservancy of Canada - East Kootenay Invasive Plant Management 2017 report prepared by EKISC ...... 16

List of Figures Figure 1: Dry Cedar Hemlock areas restored on Darkwoods in 2016 (12 ha) and 2017 (33.75 ha).... 9 Figure 2: Pre-treatment fuel loading in mature forest ...... 10 Figure 3: Post treatment mature forest ...... 10 Figure 4: Restored Common Nighthawk nesting area above CVWMA ...... 11 Figure 5. The light brown shaded areas show the location of the higher ground shaped from soil removed from restoring the wetlands. The red polygons show the locations of the wetlands constructed in 2017...... 15 Figure 6. Heavy machinery contouring the wetland area...... 16

Task 1: Invasive Plant Management: Canadian Rocky Mountain Program Area

Introduction The invasion of noxious weeds has numerous negative impacts on natural ecosystems. Invasive plants threaten the health of Canada’s limited native grasslands, may displace or extirpate endangered plant and animal species; negatively impact wildlife habitats, reduce productivity in forestry, agriculture and fisheries, and overall contribute negatively to functioning ecosystems.

Invasive plants pose the second largest threat to native biodiversity after the threat of residential development. NCC, with the assistance of our partners, having removed the primary threat of development, is placing a priority on the management of invasive species on private conservation properties.

Goals & Objectives The funding provided by the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) was for invasive plant treatments on NCC properties in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Program Area. The treatments were directed to address the priorities outlined in the Invasive Plant Management Plan developed for the Canadian Rocky Mountain Program Area and regional invasive plant councils/committees (i.e., Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society and East Kootenay Invasive Species Council).

The project’s intent was to address the threat posed by invasive species to biodiversity targets on NCC’s conservation lands. The Invasive Species Council (ISC) of BC defines the term invasive species as any non-native organism that causes economic or environmental harm and can spread quickly to new areas of BC. The ISC defines an invasive plant as any invasive plant that has the potential to pose undesirable or detrimental impacts on people, animals or ecosystems. Invasive plants can establish quickly and easily on both disturbed and un-disturbed sites, causing widespread negative economic, social and environmental impacts. At a regional level, high priority invasive plants (Early Detection Rapid Response [EDRR]) have been identified by the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council (EKISC) and the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) for survey and treatment.

Spotted knapweed Hound’s tongue (Centaurea maculosa) (Cynoglossum officinale) 5

Objectives Status Comments To conduct invasive plant management and control Complete Most projects were completed by EKISC in activities on high priority sites on NCC’s properties, 2017, while one larger invasive plant including: Columbia Lake Lot 48, Marion Creek treatment project that was to occur on Benchlands, Pine Butte Ranch, Kootenay River Mount Broadwood was canceled due to the Ranch, Thunder Hill Ranch, Elk Valley Heritage extreme fire hazard in summer 2017, these Conservation Area, and the Mount Broadwood treatments were successively completed in Heritage Conservation Area. summer 2018. The East Kootenay Invasive Species Council Complete See East Kootenay Invasive Plant (EKISC) entered all treatment record and survey Management 2017 report in Appendix data completely and accurately into the IAPP system by December 31st, 2017. Based on inventories and regional priorities, EKISC Complete See East Kootenay Invasive Plant shall implement an integrated management Management 2017 report in Appendix approach to treat high priority invasive plants and/or sites applying the most suitable tools for the particular situation.

Study Area The Canadian Rocky Mountains ecoregion extends over a large portion of the Rocky Mountains in southeastern British Columbia, and includes NCC’s Elk-Flathead, Rocky Mountain Trench, and South Selkirk Natural Areas.

Methods All invasive plant management activities were conducted as per the guidelines established by the Invasive Alien Plant Program (IAPP) Reference Guide (2013) and the Invasive Plant Pest Management Plan for the Southern Interior of British Columbia (FLNR-‐PMP 738-‐0024-‐14/19). All inventories, mechanical and chemical treatment data collected in 2016 have been entered into the IAPP database.

Priority areas and target invasive plants were identified in collaboration with NCC’s Stewardship Coordinator, Canadian Rocky Mountains. Additional stakeholders, private landowners, NCC staff, and invasive species specialists were also consulted as required.

Results Invasive plant treatments on NCC Properties in the East Kootenay commenced on May 30th, 2017 and were completed by July 28, 2018. One invasive plant treatment area on Mount Broadwood was delayed in 2017 due to the extreme wildfire events but was successfully treated in summer 2018.

In 2017, concentrated efforts to conduct mechanical treatments (hand-pulling) at Marion Creek Benchland’s Frocklage Reservoir were the most effective management option for spotted knapweed. Some sites were close to water which precluded the use of herbicides along the riparian zone and hand-pulling methods were selected at this site.

See East Kootenay Invasive Plant Management report in Appendix for a complete list of actions and sites treated in 2017.

Recommendations Annual invasive species management and monitoring funds have significantly improved NCC’s ability to track and treat invasive species on conservation lands. It is recommended that annual monitoring and treatments continue.

The development of Best Management Practices when working on NCC lands continues to be developed in consultation with local Invasive Plant Councils. NCC participated in invasive plant treatment planning meetings with both the EKISC and CKISS in March 2018 to further develop strategic plans for invasive plants on NCC priority properties. Additionally, NCC will continue to develop Operational Weed Management Plans for newly acquired conservation lands, including the recently added Luke Creek Wildlife Corridor (Teck-Wycliffe) and Morrissey Meadows in the East Kootenay.

Detailed invasive plant inventories will continue to feature prominently in 2018 as recommended by invasive plant management plans for priority properties. NCC has had great success of invasive plant treatments from the completion of a detailed inventory of the land first. The detailed invasive plant inventory assists with creating work plans, and save on contractor treatment time, therefore increasing treatment efficiencies.

In 2018, NCC will also request the Hound’s Tongue biocontol agent (Mogulones cruciger) to be distributed at the Hound’s Tongue sites found within Kootenay River Ranch as recommended by EKISC.

Task 2: Darkwoods Ecosystem Restoration for Rare Dry Interior Cedar- Hemlock Ecosystems

Introduction

The dry and very dry warm Interior Cedar Hemlock variants (ICHdw1 and ICHxw) have been heavily impacted by urban and rural development, timber harvesting and fire suppression over the past century. They provide habitat for at least 25 animal species at risk and is important winter range for mule deer, white-tailed deer and elk (McKillop and Ehman, 2016). The Darkwoods Property Management Plan recognizes dry ICH forests as a fire maintained ecosystem in need of restoration due to forest harvesting by previous landowners and fire suppression over the past several decades. Fire history research shows that low severity, stand maintaining fires that historically dominated these drier portions of the ICHdw1 have been absent in recent decades resulting in greater stem density and higher fire hazard than would occur naturally (). Climate change projections suggest that the fire frequency and intensity will increase in the future in the absence of mitigation efforts (Utzig, Holt and Machmer 2016). Additionally, past silviculture practices following logging have led to conifer plantations much thicker and with fewer gaps and deciduous trees than would be expected in natural forests. Utzig, Holt and Machmer in their 2016 report ‘Darkwoods conservation property: Climate change vulnerability and fire management planning’ placed the highest priority for management actions on treating these rare ecosystems.

Goals and Objectives The dry ICH ecosystems to be restored provide critical habitat for many species at risk as well as critical ungulate winter range. This project aims to create a resilient ecosystem with an appropriate mix of native trees and shrubs that can support the many species at risk that rely on fire maintained ecosystems while improving ungulate winter range and reduce fire hazard. NCC conducted a pilot project in 2016, partially funded by FWCP, to assess the efficiency and efficacy of restoring dense conifer plantations so they can develop into an ecosystem that is resistant to high severity fire, provides high quality wildlife habitat, and is more prepared for a changing climate. The pilot project treated 5 ha of restoration area 1 and 7 ha of restoration area 2 (Figure 1). The highest priority 24.2 hectares was planned for restoration in 2017 in the driest ecosystems above the south arm of Kootenay Lake.

Study area All activities took place on the Darkwoods Conservation Property, owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. The northernmost restoration area is in the ICHdw, directly above Cultus creek, where it flows into Kootenay lake, while the other three areas are in the ICHxw and ICHdw above the Kootenay River, and the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Dry Cedar Hemlock areas restored on Darkwoods in 2016 (12 ha) and 2017 (33.75 ha).

Methods All treatments were carried out by local contractors during the fall of 2017, once the fire danger had abated and the breeding bird window had closed. Chainsaws were used in mature forest to remove the smallest diameter understory trees and lower branches of mature trees, while brush saws were used in overstocked plantations to remove excessive conifer saplings.

Results and Outcomes In 2017, a total of 33.75 ha of dry interior cedar hemlock forest were restored (Figure 1).

Wildhorse forestry was hired to complete the final 7 ha of the 12 ha area they started as a pilot project in 2016 (Restoration area 1; Figure 1). Of the 7 ha in restoration area 1, approximately 5 ha was an overstocked plantation that was thinned using brush saws, and 2 ha was in mature forest with excessive fuel loads that was treated using chainsaws. In the overstocked plantation, stocking was reduced to 600-800 SPH, where Ponderosa pine was to top priority for maintaining, followed by Douglas fir, western larch and western white pine. In the mature forest (Figure 2), all stems smaller than 12.5 cm dbh were removed, and the branches below 6-8 feet from the ground were cut (Figure 3). All slash was piled, and burning or mulching of the piles was conducted in 2018.

Figure 2: Pre-treatment fuel loading in mature forest

Figure 3: Post treatment mature forest

EcoSense Silviculture was hired to complete restoration areas 2, 3 and 4 in the south end of Darkwoods (Figure 1). Restoration area 2 was originally logged in 2008, and became severely overstocked due to both natural and artificial restocking. Half of this plantation was treated in 2016, while the remaining 7 ha was treated in 2017. This plantation was thinned using a combination of chainsaws and brush saws to a density of 1000 SPH, favouring Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, larch and western white pine.

Restoration area 3 is intended both enhance the ecosystem and to form part the Midgeley Mountain fire break, a landscape level fire break that stretches from the Kootenay River to the top of Midgeley Mountain. The lowest portion of Area 3 abuts the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area and reaches a cliff face directly above Kootenay River, while the highest portion meets the Midgely mountain fire from 2015. The lowest portion of restoration area 3 was originally logged in 2003 and was identified as potentially good Common Nighthawk nesting habitat (Machmer, 2017) so was thinned to 400 SPH, favouring the same species as listed above. All slash was dragged away from rock outcrops to support nighthawk nesting. This area also supports high numbers of deciduous trees, which were all left to assist in forming a fire break. The uppermost portion of restoration area 3 abuts the lowest portion of the Midgeley mountain fire, and was also logged in 2003. This area was thinned to 1000 SPH with the same methods and species prioritization as described above.

Restoration area 4 was a block originally logged in 2003, and also identified as potentially good Common Nighthawk habitat (Machmer, 2017) and was thinned to 400 SPH or less (particularly around rock outcrops) favouring the same species listed above (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Restored Common Nighthawk nesting area above CVWMA

Discussion Restoration carried out in 2017 was successful, but the relatively small area treated compared to what is needed on the landscape highlights the challenge of restoring an ecosystem that has had fire excluded for over 50 years. Treating young plantations is relatively inexpensive when compared to mature forest because the trees are much smaller and can be removed with a brush saw. Mature forest is far more time consuming, and leaves behind more slash that will remain a fire hazard for several years if not removed.

The creation of fire breaks by reducing fuels in mature forests and reducing conifer stocking in plantations while maintaining deciduous trees can be an effective way of both enhancing an ecosystem and assisting in future firefighting or prescribed burning activities. Consultation with the Wildfire Management branch during the design of the fire break was critical to the project’s success.

We were able to exceed the 24.2 ha of treatment originally planned for 2017 due to additional funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to support restoration of Common Nighthawk nesting habitat. Leveraging species at risk funding can be an effective way to raise funds to treat more areas.

Recommendations Several recommendations can be derived from work completed in 2017:

1) The scope of the challenge to restore a fire maintained ecosystem from which fire has been excluded requires consideration of larger landscape level projects that may include prescribed burning or controlled wildfire. NCC should continue to investigate options to initiate a prescribed burning program on Darkwoods. 2) Given the scale of work required, prioritization is critical, and should be based on those areas most in need of restoration, in strategic areas for firefighting, and cost effectiveness. NCC should continue to identify more high priority areas, and seek funding to continue to carry out the already identified high priority areas in 2018. 3) Work completed on the Midgeley fire break represents a first step towards an effective fire break. Creating a wider area with reduced fuels should be a focus in coming years. 4) Follow up monitoring of all areas treated is required. Especially in the younger plantations, additional treatments may be required within a decade. 5) All treatments have the potential to increase fuel loads in the short term if slash is not removed. At a minimum, piling slash should be completed so there is not a continuous fuel bed. Wherever practical, slash should be burned or chipped to mitigate this threat. 6) Completion of the BC Nightjar survey route that runs through Darkwoods to determine trends in Common Nighthawk abundance

Task 3: Cherry Meadows Wetland Restoration Project

Introduction Wetland and stream restoration projects are proposed to help compensate for similar habitats that were inundated by reservoirs constructed along the Columbia River in the Kootenay Region. A wetland restoration project was identified on the Cherry Meadows property. It is very possible to restore this human-altered wet meadow so it looks and functions like a natural ecosystem supporting a variety of wetlands and related terrestrial habitats. In order to proceed with a wetland creation project, NCC worked with Thomas Biebighauser and Robin Annschild to develop a detailed project and design for the Cherry Meadows wetlands.

Goals & Objectives Summary report of wetland creation prescription and recommendations provided by wetland specialist.

Objectives Status Comments Identified wetland restoration projects at Complete Cherry Meadows Wetland Restoration Project Cherry Meadows report was provided to FWCP in 2016. Coordinate experienced contractors to Complete Thomas Biebighauser, wetland specialist was used oversee wetland construction and machine to oversee the project operators Coordinate and employ heavy machine Complete Fiorentino Bros. was used to conduct the heavy operators to conduct the work machinery works for the project. Restore at least 5 wetlands with funding Complete Using high quality machinery and experienced secured in 2017 operators allowed eight wetlands to be constructed in 2017.

Study Area The 70 hectare (172.5 acre) Cherry Meadows property is located approximately 15 km east of Kimberley on the benchlands west of the Kootenay River. The property is located immediately north of the St. Mary's Indian Reserve 10 kilometers north of Cranbrook.

Map

Methods Wetland restoration projects were identified in the old farm fields at Cherry Meadows. The areas selected were drained using ditches, showing they were once wetlands. Most of the wetland restoration sites were also shallow basins that had been modified by filling and draining. The following types of wetlands would be restored: Emergent, Ephemeral, and Wet-Meadow.

Sites were selected for wetland restoration where slopes were gradual, groundwater was near the surface, and soil texture was high in clay. Slopes were measured using a laser level. Each wetland restoration site was selected to have no more than a 50cm change in elevation from upper to lower edge.

Results The first phase of the Cherry Meadows Wetland Restoration Project restored over 3.3 hectares of emergent, ephemeral, and wet-meadow wetlands by filling ditches, removing fill, and reshaping natural contours on the landscape. The project started to restore key features of natural wetlands, including flow from springs, the elevation of groundwater, presence of shallow water depressions, hydric soils, non-compacted soils, tufts, mounds, ridges, and native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees that were present before drainage took place. In 2017, eight wetlands were constructed over the Cherry Meadows project area. Construction of the wetlands using heavy equipment took place from November 27 to December 8, 2017.

Figure 5. The light brown shaded areas show the location of the higher ground shaped from soil removed from restoring the wetlands. The red polygons show the locations of the wetlands constructed in 2017.

Highlights include: • Wetlands built ranged in size from 397m² to 9,555m² • The maximum depth of the wetlands wetland built varied from 30cm to 160cm • The wetlands were built to have naturally appearing, irregular edges, with peninsulas, points, bays, coves, islands, ridges, and hummocks. • Ditches were filled and removed. • Soil was removed from filled and leveled wetlands. • Some logs were placed in the wetlands. These were obtained from dead and down material along the edge of the woods. • Wetlands were built shallow with gradual slopes to provide habitat for a diversity of Waterfowl, Sandhill Cranes, and Shorebirds.

The perimeter of the wetlands and soil removed from building the wetlands were seeded by contractors and Walter Latter, a volunteer. A mix of annual rye, native riparian seed mix, and native upland seed mix were applied using shoulder-mounted bag-style seed spreaders.

Recommendations NCC will pursue additional funding to complete the project through the National Wetlands Conservation Fund, and other partners including FWCP in 2017. NCC recognizes the support for wetland creation and enhancement from FWCP-Columbia and we hopeful that this initiative will be funded in 2017/18.

Figure 6. Heavy machinery contouring the wetland area. More photos for the project can be found here (link still active 30 November 2018): https://www.dropbox.com/sh/60md5lfnqw9ir7w/AABk_H6Z5ri5CQi1kFv4aK5ta?dl=0

References MacKillop, D.J. and A.J. Ehman. 2016. A field guide to site classification and identification for southeast British Columbia: the south-central Columbia Mountains.

Utzig G., Holt, R.F., and Machmer M. 2016. Darkwoods conservation property: climate change vulnerability and fire management planning. Final Report: 2016.

Acknowledgements The Nature Conservancy of Canada would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program on behalf of its program partners BC Hydro, the Province of BC, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations and public stakeholders.

Appendix: The Nature Conservancy of Canada - East Kootenay Invasive Plant Management 2017 report prepared by EKISC

The Nature Conservancy of Canada East Kootenay Invasive Plant Management 2017

East Kootenay Invasive Species Council 1902 Theatre Road Cranbrook, BC V1C 7G1

February, 2018

2 The Nature Conservancy of Canada East Kootenay Invasive Species Council

INTRODUCTION

The East Kootenay Invasive Species Council (EKISC) and The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) engaged in a Service Agreement for the 2017 field season. In accordance with the service agreement, services included invasive plant management on high priority NCC properties within the East Kootenay; this report summarizes the activities that were completed. A maximum of $19,950.00 was budgeted for this contract to survey and conduct chemical and mechanical invasive plant treatments at the specified NCC priority properties.

MANAGEMENT AREA

EKISC’s jurisdiction lies within the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK), and has been divided into Invasive Plant Management Areas (IPMAs) as shown in Figure 1. Administrative duties and operational activities were conducted throughout EKISC’s territory, with a focus on high priority NCC properties, specifically: Columbia Lake Lot 48, Elk Valley Heritage Conservation Area, Kootenay River Ranch, Luke Creek, Luxor Linkage, Marion Creek Benchlands, Mount Broadwood Heritage Conservation Area, Pine Butte Ranch, and Thunder Hill Ranch.

Figure 1. Invasive Plant Management Area (IPMA) Boundaries within the Regional District of East Kootenay

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TREATMENT SUMMARY

Invasive plant treatments on NCC Properties in the East Kootenay commenced on May 30th, 2017 and were completed by October 29th, 2017. Eight NCC properties were targeted for invasive plant treatment using 4,011.5 litres of an herbicide mix, covering 20.94 hectares of invasive plants. The following tables and maps summarize the treatments that occurred at each site.

COLUMBIA LAKE LOT 48

Figure 2. Map of the 2017 chemical treatment sites at Columbia Lake Lot 48

Table 1. 2017 chemical invasive plant treatment data at Columbia Lake Lot 48 Invasive Plants Amount of Mix Area Treated Location Site ID Treatment Date Herbicide Targeted Used (L) (ha) 268047 June 22, 2017 Diffuse Knapweed Milestone 2 0.010 303130 June 22, 2017 Diffuse Knapweed Milestone 100 0.500 Columbia Lake 303131 June 22, 2017 Diffuse Knapweed Milestone 10 0.050 Lot 48 324034 June 22, 2017 Spotted Knapweed Milestone 10 0.050 Total 122L 0.61ha

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Monitoring Summary of Columbia Lake Lot 48

Figure 3. Photos of the successful invasive plant treatment (Diffuse Knapweed) Columbia Lake Lot 48. Few alfalfa and clover plants were the subjects of collateral damage of herbicide treatment.

Successful invasive plant treatments need to be seeded and fertilized with native grasses and forbs. Any bare ground areas, and the successful treatment of invasive plants may leave bare ground, which is susceptible for further invasion of invasive plant from the seed bank that is already present. Consecutive yearly treatments will yield favorable results against the minimal knapweed sites found at Columbia Lake Lot 48.

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Figure 4. Foxtail present along roadway through Columbia Lake Lot 48

Although Foxtail is not considered a noxious invasive species, it is considered a weedy nuisance. This may be a species of concern for NCC at Columbia Lake Lot 48, and this property is relatively clean of invasive plants. Foxtail is a pioneer species, which can rapidly invade disturbed areas, like the roadway seen in figure 4.

Figure 5. Canada Thistle patches at Columbia Lake Lot 48

Canada Thistle patches should be targeted for treatment in 2018. With the successful herbicide treatments of the knapweed sites, (and the 2 year residual left from the herbicide), this should allow for treatment time of the Canada thistle sites in 2018. 6 The Nature Conservancy of Canada East Kootenay Invasive Species Council

ELK VALLEY HERITAGE CONSERVATION AREA

Figure 6. Map of the 2017 chemical treatment sites at the Elk Valley Heritage Conservation Area

Table 2. 2017 chemical invasive plant treatment data at the Elk Valley Heritage Conservation Area Treatment Amount of Area Treated Location Site ID Invasive Plants Targeted Herbicide Date Mix Used (L) (ha) Canada thistle, Spotted knapweed, St. Tordon 22K 5.0 0.016 230588 July 14, 2017 John's wort, Yellow toadflax Milestone 15.0 0.036 230590 July 14, 2017 Spotted knapweed Milestone 0.5 0.001 Canada thistle, Scentless chamomile, 230593 July 14, 2017 Milestone 55.0 0.131 Spotted knapweed 230834 July 14, 2017 Spotted knapweed Milestone 2.0 0.005 Common tansy, Sulphur cinquefoil, Tordon 22K 4.0 0.013 230836 July 14, 2017 Elk Valley Wormwood, Yellow toadflax Milestone 8.0 0.019 Heritage Tordon 22K 0.5 0.002 270412 July 14, 2017 Blueweed, Spotted knapweed Conservation Milestone 1.0 0.002 Area 270709 July 14, 2017 Spotted knapweed Milestone 1.0 0.002 270716 July 14, 2017 Spotted knapweed Milestone 5.0 0.012 276031 July 14, 2017 Spotted knapweed Milestone 20.0 0.048 278282 July 14, 2017 Spotted knapweed Milestone 4.0 0.010 295852 July 14, 2017 Spotted knapweed Milestone 0.5 0.001 323145 July 14, 2017 Scentless chamomile, Wormwood Milestone 3.0 0.007 323146 July 14, 2017 Yellow toadflax Tordon 22K 1.0 0.003 Total 125.5L 0.307ha 7 The Nature Conservancy of Canada East Kootenay Invasive Species Council

KOOTENAY RIVER RANCH

Figure 7. Map of the 2017 chemical treatment sites at Kootenay River Ranch

Table 3. 2017 chemical invasive plant treatment data at Kootenay River Ranch Invasive Plants Amount of Area Treated Location Site ID Treatment Date Herbicide Targeted Mix Used (L) (ha) 296204 October 7, 2017 Spotted knapweed Milestone 235 1.175 318123 August 15, 2017 Spotted knapweed Milestone 2 0.010 Kootenay 323493 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 600 3.000 River Ranch 323496 October 18, 2017 Spotted knapweed Milestone 65 0.325 Total 902L 4.510ha

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Monitoring Summary of Kootenay River Ranch

Treatment of Spotted knapweed sites at Kootenay River Ranch were successful in 2017. Treatment and monitoring of invasive plant sites at Kootenay River Ranch needs to continue in 2018. The treatment of the Spotted knapweed infestations around Pebble Pond (as seen in figure 8) were treated by the EKISC area controller, and EKISC’s field crew. The EKISC area controller broadcast sprayed around the fence line, and the EKISC field crew used backpack sprayers within the fence line, and closer to the pond. The infestation was quite dense, and the seed source in the soil is presumably very high, which means repeated consecutive treatments are recommended. The area should be evaluated in the spring of 2018 to see if the area would benefit from seeding of native grasses and forbs.

Large Hound’s Tongue plants were found sporadically at Kootenay River Ranch. NCC should request biocontrol in 2018 from EKISC for these infestations.

A new fence was installed along the highway and Kootenay River Ranch. The equipment used to install the fence potentially carried seed of invasive plants to the newly disturbed land created by the installation of the fence. This fence line should be inventoried and chemically treated for invasive plants in 2018.

Figure 8. Spotted knapweed treatments around Pebble Pond at Kootenay River Ranch

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Luxor Linkage

Figure 9. Map of the 2017 chemical treatment sites at Luxor Linkage

Table 4. 2017 chemical invasive plant treatment data at Luxor Linkage Treatment Invasive Plants Amount of Area Treated Location Site ID Herbicide Date Targeted Mix Used (L) (ha) 323986 July 19, 2017 Leafy spurge Aspect 16 0.080 323992 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 1 0.005 323993 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 1 0.005 323994 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 10 0.050 323995 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 30 0.150 323996 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 4 0.020 Luxor Linkage 323997 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 3 0.015 323998 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 4 0.020 323999 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 7 0.035 324000 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 20 0.100 324001 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 2 0.010 324002 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 4 0.020 324003 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 1 0.005

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Treatment Invasive Plants Amount of Area Treated Location Site ID Herbicide Date Targeted Mix Used (L) (ha) 324004 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 5 0.025 324005 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 1 0.005 324006 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 15 0.075 324007 July 19, 2017 Yellow hawkweed Lontrel 360 15 0.075 324008 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 2 0.010 324009 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 4 0.020 324031 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 190 0.950 Luxor Linkage 324032 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 30 0.150 324033 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 70 0.350 324041 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 10 0.050 324044 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 3 0.015 324053 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 5 0.025 324055 July 19, 2017 Spotted knapweed Lontrel 360 60 0.300 Total 513L 2.565ha

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Marion Creek Benchland

Figure 10. Map of the 2017 chemical treatment sites at Marion Creek Benchland

Table 5. 2017 chemical invasive plant treatment data at Marion Creek Benchland Invasive Plants Amount of Area Treated Location Site ID Treatment Date Herbicide Targeted Mix Used (L) (ha) 302968 October 5, 2017 Spotted Knapweed Milestone 60 0.300 June 08, 2017, Milestone 65 0.325 318121 Spotted Knapweed Marion Creek October 05, 2017 Vantage XRT 9 0.030 Benchland Spotted Knapweed, 318121 June 22, 2017 HAND PULL 0 0.103 Canada Thistle 134L 0.758ha

EKISC area controller contractor, starting at site 302968, treated roads and trails with a boom sprayer. EKISC field crew treated the Spotted knapweed infestation at the Frocklage Dam (site 318121). Within 1m of the water, the Spotted knapweed plants were hand pulled. From 1m of the water, to 10m away from the water, the Spotted knapweed plants were individually treated with Vantage XRT (Glyphosate based herbicide). This area was also seeded with a native grass mix in late October 2017.

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Mount Broadwood Heritage Conservation Area

Figure 11. Map of the 2017 chemical treatment sites at Mount Broadwood Heritage Conservation Area

Table 6. 2017 chemical invasive plant treatment data at Mount Broadwood Heritage Conservation Area Treatment Amount of Area Treated Location Site ID Invasive Plants Targeted Herbicide Date Mix Used (L) (ha) St. John's Wort, Sulphur May 30, Mt. 309745 Cinquefoil, Yellow Milestone 500 2.326 2017 Broadwood Hawkweed Total 500L 2.326ha

Invasive plant management Mount Broadwood and the Wigwam Flats Complex was a collaboration of treatment and funding with TNTBC, MFLNRORD, and NCC. NCC contributed $2,000.00 of the total $14,000.00 to focus treatments on the road from the gate of the conservation property at Elko, to the gate at the entrance to Mount Broadwood (as per the mutually agreed EKISC Conservation Property work plan 2017 – dated May 19, 2017). As directed by MFLNRORD staff, invasive plant treatments were conducted in late May and early June. Treatment was planned this early to attempt to treat Yellow Hawkweed as it was bolting. EKISC recommends waiting until mid-June for invasive plant treatments to more efficiently treat all species found at this property. Treatment of St. John’s Wort, late germinating/bolting Yellow Hawkweed and Spotted Knapweed were not as effective with the early treatment direction. 13 The Nature Conservancy of Canada East Kootenay Invasive Species Council

Figure 12. Successful Yellow Hawkweed treatment at Wigwam Flats

Figure 13. Missed Yellow Hawkweed plants in a chemically treated field that were presumably not present during the early treatment date

14 The Nature Conservancy of Canada East Kootenay Invasive Species Council

PINE BUTTE RANCH

Figure 14. Map of the 2017 chemical treatment sites at Pine Butte Ranch

Table 7. 2017 chemical invasive plant treatment data at the Pine Butte Ranch Amount of Area Location Site ID Treatment Date Invasive Plants Targeted Herbicide Mix Used (L) Treated (ha) Spotted knapweed, Sulphur 296122 October 23, 2017 Milestone 215 1.075 cinquefoil Pine Butte Spotted knapweed, Sulphur 296125 October 29, 2017 Milestone 370 1.850 Ranch cinquefoil 318093 October 23, 2017 Spotted knapweed Milestone 280 1.400 Total 865L 4.325ha

15 The Nature Conservancy of Canada East Kootenay Invasive Species Council

THUNDER HILL RANCH

Figure 15. Map of the 2017 chemical treatment sites at Thunder Hill Ranch

Table 8. 2017 chemical invasive plant treatment data at the Thunder Hill Ranch Invasive Plants Amount of Mix Area Treated Location Site ID Treatment Date Herbicide Targeted Used (L) (ha) Thunder Hill 323494 October 6, 2017 Burdock Milestone 15 0.075 Ranch Total 15L 0.075ha

Monitoring Summary of Thunder Hill Ranch

Treatment of the Burdock infestation around the corrals at Thunder Hill Ranch was successful (as seen in figure 14). At the time of invasive plant monitoring, no high priority invasive plants were surveyed on the roads leading to the corral (except for the occasional Canada Thistle). It is recommended that a more complete inventory be conducted at Thunder Hill Ranch to document if past invasive plant sites are still present, and to create a more efficient work plan of where treatment should be prioritized.

16 The Nature Conservancy of Canada East Kootenay Invasive Species Council

Figure 16. Successful treatment of Burdock at the corrals on Thunder Hill Ranch

LUKE CREEK

Invasive Plant treatments at Luke Creek were not completed in 2017. The funding allocated for this treatment will be held for treatment in 2018. Treatment at this property will target the invasive plant sites that were located by the inventory conducted by EKISC in 2016. This property will be prioritized for treatment in the spring of 2018.

17 The Nature Conservancy of Canada East Kootenay Invasive Species Council

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Table 9. Financial summary of treatment and administration costs at NCC Conservation Lands in the East Kootenay region in 2017. Item Cost Columbia Lake Lot 48 $640.00 Elk Valley Heritage Conservation Area $1,260.00 Kootenay River Ranch $2,835.00 Luke Creek** $630.00** Luxor Linkage $1,260.00 Marion Creek $1,260.00 Mount Broadwood $1,250.00 Pine Butte Ranch $2,205.00 Thunder Hill Ranch $630.00 Herbicide $2,850.00 Monitoring and Data Entry $1,900.00 Treatment Subtotal $16,720.00

Administration $2,280.00 GST $950.00 Total $19,950.00 **Funding to be carried over for treatment in 2018

RECOMMENDATIONS

The collaboration between EKISC and The Nature Conservancy of Canada allowed for efficient delivery of invasive plant management on NCC priority conservation lands in the East Kootenay. A few recommendations to ensure a more effective long-term management strategy include:

• Continue working with the EKISC on invasive plant management strategies each year. Continued yearly treatments will yield favorable results • Increase the budget for invasive plant inventory, and treatments • Implement invasive plant management contracts in the spring of 2018 to allow for more efficient planning and timing of invasive plant treatment • Seed and fertilize all disturbances and invasive plant treatment areas • Continue working with other conservation land managers for a collaborative treatment approach where possible • Consider delaying treatment timing at Wigwam Flats to mid-June to provide more efficient treatment for a wider range of species • Request the Hound’s Tongue biocontol agent (Mogulones cruciger) to be distributed at the Hound’s Tongue sites found within Kootenay River Ranch • Consider adding detailed invasive plant inventories to the invasive plant management plan for priority properties. NCC has had great success of invasive plant treatments from the completion of a detailed inventory of the land first. The detailed invasive plant inventory 18 The Nature Conservancy of Canada East Kootenay Invasive Species Council

assists with creating work plans, and save on contractor treatment time, therefore increasing treatment efficiencies • Work with EKISC to create a more detailed work plan for each conservation property based on high value conservation areas and invasive plant inventories • NCC employees should be educated with invasive plant identification training to assist with inventory and proper mechanical treatment of invasive plants • NCC employees should use proper invasive plant management practices when working within conservation lands: • Cleaning boots and pants free of seeds and burrs on site • Spraying trucks or ATVs to prevent the transport of seeds • Seeding immediately after any land disturbance • Staying on dirt roads or skid trails as much as possible • Pulling or clipping any invasive plants as they see them • Participate in an invasive plant treatment planning meeting with EKISC in the spring of 2018 to create a more strategic plan for invasive plants on NCC properties.

On behalf of the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council, we sincerely appreciate The Nature Conservancy of Canada’s effort against noxious weeds in the East Kootenay.