Management of Invasive Plant Species in Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver Photo: Janusz Kruszewski
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Management of Invasive Plant Species in Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver Photo: Janusz Kruszewski Submitted to: Danny Catt Recreational Land Management Instructor Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation Program British Columbia Institute of Technology Mike Mackintosh Fish and Wildlife Vancouver Parks and Recreation Prepared by: Carlo Acuña Janusz Kruszewski Fish, Wildlife and Recreation Program British Columbia Institute of Technology Management of Invasive Plant Species in Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver Table of Contents Title Page Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. i List of Figures.................................................................................................................. ii Acknowledgements......................................................................................................... iv 1.0 Introduction............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Jericho Beach Park....................................................................................... 1 1.3 Project Objectives........................................................................................ 3 2.0 Study Area ................................................................................................................. 4 2.1 Study Area Location .................................................................................... 4 2.2 Site Description........................................................................................... 4 3.0 Materials and Methods...............................................................................................6 3.1 Literature Review......................................................................................... 6 3.1.1 Methods ............................................................................................... 6 3.2 Field Surveys and Mapping.......................................................................... 6 3.2.1 Materials............................................................................................... 6 3.2.2 Methods ............................................................................................... 6 3.3 Removal Efforts ........................................................................................... 7 4.0 Results ......................................................................................................................8 4.1 Overview of Methods and Techniques ......................................................... 8 4.2 Invasive Species .......................................................................................... 8 4.2.1 Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus discolor).................................................. 8 4.2.2 English Ivy (Hedera helix).................................................................... 10 4.2.3 Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius) ....................................................... 14 4.2.4 Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) ..................................... 17 4.2.5 English Holly (Ilex aquifolium) ............................................................ 19 4.3 Removal Efforts ......................................................................................... 21 4.4 Field Surveys and Mapping........................................................................ 24 5.0 Recommendations ...................................................................................................29 5.1 General Control Recommendations ........................................................... 29 5.2 Specific Species Control ............................................................................ 30 5.2.1 Himalayan blackberry ......................................................................... 30 5.2.2 English ivy .......................................................................................... 31 5.2.3 Scotch broom ..................................................................................... 31 5.2.4 Japanese knotweed............................................................................. 32 5.2.5 English holly ....................................................................................... 32 5.3 Removal of Cuttings.................................................................................. 32 5.4 Replanting................................................................................................. 33 5.5 Mapping.................................................................................................... 34 5.6 Public Relations......................................................................................... 34 6.0 References Cited......................................................................................................35 6.1 Personal Communications......................................................................... 36 7.0 Appendices..............................................................................................................37 Appendix A: Plants of Jericho Beach Park ........................................................ 37 Appendix B: Other Invasive Plant Control Organizations ................................. 39 - i - Management of Invasive Plant Species in Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver List of Figures Title Page Figure 1: View of a duck pond, open park and Burard Inlet from Jericho Beach Park ................................................................................................................. 2 Figure 2: Location of Vancouver in relation to the Pacific northwest of North America. .......................................................................................................... 4 Figure 3: Location of Jericho Beach Park on the west side of the city of Vancouver. ...................................................................................................... 4 Figure 4: One of the duck ponds in Jericho Beach Park ......................................... 5 Figure 5: A trail along the beach in Jericho Beach Park ......................................... 5 Figure 6. The three main vegetation areas of Jericho Beach Park. ......................... 6 Figure 7: Himalayan blackberry, a common invasive plant species in Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver..................................................................................... 8 Figure 8: Leaf shape of Himalayan blackberry....................................................... 9 Figure 9: English ivy, a common invasive plant found in Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver ..................................................................................................... 10 Figure 10: Immature English ivy leaf form found along the ground .................... 11 Figure 11: Mature English ivy leaf form found on trees....................................... 11 Figure 12: Thick mat of English ivy in Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver ................. 12 Figure 13: English ivy growing up the trunks of trees......................................... 12 Figure 14. English ivy being pulled from Jericho Beach Park in August, 2004..... 13 Figure 15. A young boy standing next to a tree recently freed of English ivy. The ivy should be cut up to about two metres high.............................................. 14 Figure 16: Scotch broom, a common invasive plant found in Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver ..................................................................................................... 15 Figure 17. The Scotch broom flower ................................................................... 15 Figure 18. A volunteer removing Scotch broom with a Weed Wrench. This tool is highly effective at removing Scotch broom.................................................... 17 Figure 19: Japanese knotweed, a common invasive plant species in Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver............................................................................................. 18 Figure 20. Japanese knotweed leaf form ............................................................. 18 Figure 21. English holly, a common invasive plant found in Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver ..................................................................................................... 20 Figure 22. English holly leaf form ....................................................................... 20 Figure 23. English holly being cut to the ground with a saw............................... 21 Figure 24. Volunteers at Jericho Beach Park using loppers to take out some English ivy growing up trees.......................................................................... 22 Figure 25. Abandoned urban campsite in Jericho Beach Park hiding behind Himalayan blackberry and Japanese knotweed .............................................. 22 Figure 26: Former urban campsite in Jericho Beach Park after removal of Japanese Knotweed and pruning of cedar trees............................................. 23 Figure 27. Volunteers cutting down Japanese knotweed in regrowing from previously cleared ground in Jericho Beach Park............................................ 23 Figure 28. Distribution and percent cover of Himalayan blackberry in Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver, based on surveys conducted in the fall and winter (2004-2005). ................................................................................................