www.friendsofbeaconhillpark.ca October 2001 Inside this issue: What Happened to the Cedars? Dr. Michelle Gorman, Integrated Pest Management Coordinator The Cedars by Mow me Down Many Park visitors have noticed the brown. Once the tree turns from Sea Shore Erosion dying cedars near the waterways and slightly lighter in color to more of a lakes. yellowish tinge - in general- 50% of the BHP Management Plan roots have already been infected. These cedars are know as Lawson A Sea of Blue Once the tree turns bronze, 75% or Cypress also known Port Orford Ce- more of the roots are involved with the Announcements dar, Chamaecyparis lawsoniania. disease. They have been infected with the dis- The Friends of Beacon Hill Park is ease: Phytophthora lateralis. a Society dedicated to preserving The fungus depends upon free water for the natural and cultural history of spread and infection so that trees along Beacon Hill Park and promoting The disease was first reported on law- appropriate uses in keeping with water ways around lakes and sloughs or its varied ecosystems. son cypress near Seattle Washington in mild moist regions are the first to be- in 1923. It was not until 1942, in the As the population of Greater Vic- come infected. toria continues to grow and place Willamette Valley of Oregon, that the greater stress upon the park, we fungal cause was discovered and count on your support to help us Biological Agents: The City of Victoria continue our projects and work to named. The fungus is somewhat cooperated with Dr. R. S. Utkhede of help protect the park. unique in that swimming spores Agriculture Canada to study the use of Membership is $5.00 per house- (zoospores) burst forth from the spo- Enterobacter aerogens as a biological hold. Benefits include the satis- rangia in saturated soil and move with faction of helping preserve the control agent for P. lateralis in 1994 park, input in management of the the surface water. New infections of and 1995 with promising results. Un- park for the future use of all, and root tip occur as spore-bearing water participating in the Society’s ac- fortunately federal cutbacks removed tivities: percolates into the soil. Rootlets in- the resources for the continuation of fected with P. lateralis first appear to C monitor and keep abreast of this research and the findings remained park developments be watersoaked; then they darken. inconclusive needing a third year of C contribute to the newsletter and Fine roots quickly disintegrate. As share information on the park testing. C work on projects such as the fungus advances, the inner bark Native Plant Mapping and cambium of larger roots discolor C guided walks Fungicides: One fungicide is registered C organizational - phoning, pro- to a deep cinnamon brown. The dis- for the control of Phytophthora on or- gramme, refreshments, news- ease then proceeds to spread up the letter namentals in Canada and the City of trunk of the tree. Victoria has used this product for the You are welcomed to attend the monthly meetings of the directors. control of P.lateralis with limited suc- Please call for date and location. Foliage of infected trees appears cess. Early detection of the disease is of Friends of Beacon Hill Park slightly lighter in color than that of the utmost importance with controlling 1-366 St. Charles St., healthy trees and on warm spring (continued on page 3) Victoria, B.C. V8S 3N3 days, wilts slightly. Later the foliage 250-592-6659 withers, turns bronze and finally red Page 1 Bikes in the Park by Cornelia Lange On going concerns about people’s actions in the terminus of the Vancouver Street)… park will be addressed with signs planned in specific areas of the Park. These signs will have Statements The existing Westsong Way path is 4 m of Conduct while in the Park says Joe Daly – Park wide. Cycling is banned along this path due Designer. Currently there are no signs telling cy- to concerns raised about pedestrian safety. clists where they can ride their bikes in the park, The conflicts between cyclists and pedestrian which must happen before enforcement can take ac- could be reduced by providing adequate con- tion. Mountain bikers frequent the rocky outcrops trol measures. It is suggested the city test in the park, as well, ride directly over grass mead- signs informing users that it is a “Joint Use ows and along trails. Path” and that “Cyclists must Yield to Pedes- trians,” in addition, posting a bicycle speed Painted on asphalt walkways is “NO CYCLING”, limit of 10 km/hr, and paint a center line. In although it has been worn over time. Signs prohibit- addition, during high use periods when con- ing bikes on the Dallas Road Walkway will be up in flicts would increase, the City should be pre- the Spring. A future meeting with Friends and Joe pared to assign Victoria Police bicycle pa- Daly – Park Designer, will include the cycling and trols to the area. mounted police to discuss concerns of bikes off road in Beacon Hill Park. In Beacon Hill Park, the City should review the provision of joint use of paths. This will The Bicycle Master Plan (City of Victoria, February require upgrading the standard of existing 1995) states: page 7, 1.1.7 paths. The Parks Department and the Bicy- “Experience in other communities suggests cle Advisory Subcommittee should collabo- that separated bicycle or joint bicycle- rate on the amendments due to the safety pedestrian paths can support commuting and concerns raised by the Parks Department.” recreational cycling by all age groups. Sepa- rated paths may be feasible where there is According to the recent Beacon Hill Park Manage- limited cross line and signs saying whether ment Plan Phase I Final Report by AXYS Environ- the path is for exclusive bicycle use or joint mental Consulting Ltd., page 93: quote pedestrian use. “Recommendation 18: Increase enforcement For joint use paths, special control measures within the park prohibiting bicycling and are necessary. “Pedestrian Keep Right” roller-blading outside of roads and pathways. signs should be posted and a speed limit should be considered. Whatever the design, The practice of biking and roller-blading has complaints are expected. A review process raised public concern about the potential should be available to evaluate the trends damage to natural areas caused by bikes par- and to involve a committee such as the Bicy- ticularly on ‘The Ridge’ area in the north- cle Advisory Subcommittee, City staff and western section of the park which experi- the public: ences a high incidence of use by mountain bikers both on and off trails. A city by-law Beacon Hill Park south of Dallas Road from prohibits biking, roller-blading and skate- Menzies Street in the west to Bushby Street boarding on sidewalks, however, the applica- in the east; tion of this by-law to pathways within city Beacon Hill Park from the intersection of parks is a gray area. There is no signage in Cook Street and Dallas Road in the southeast the park restricting the locations of these uses to Southgate and Blanshard Streets in the and enforcement of the city by-law is limited. northeast (with a spur to the Park Boulevard (Continued on page 3) Page 2 Bikes in the Park (Concluded from previous page) trails, if any, should be closed to cyclists and/ It is recommended that bicycling and roller- or roller-bladers.” blading continue to be permitted along roads Integrated into Phase II of the Beacon Hill Park and, as an interim measure pending the out- Management Plan, will be: come of Phase II, continue to be accepted • Refining/ assessing appropriate activity along all formal pathways but not encour- • Traffic & Trail Management Plan aged. Enforcement of ‘no cycling or roller- • Natural Areas Management Plan blading’ outside of roads and pathways • Heritage Component should be increased. A more detailed inven- • Operational/ policing and bylaws review tory of trails and further public consultation • Communication Plan with the cycling community, roller-bladers • Children’s Farm & Lawnbowling agree- and other park users should be undertaken as ment review part of Phase II to determine which park trails could potentially be upgraded to better Please write to Mayor & Council your interests on accommodate multiple users and which bicycle use in Beacon Hill Park. What Happened to the Well Mow Me Down Cedars? (concluded from page 1) Success in our natural areas depends on the summer time mowers. Unfortunately mowing tall grass is this fungus; if more than 50% of the roots have been deemed necessary to reduce fire hazard in an area invaded, the fungicide won't work. Unfortunately, it susceptible to fires. Friends have worked with park takes an extremely well-trained eye to catch the dis- staff to mow mid July in order that meadow wild- ease when the tree is just slightly lighter in color. flowers can seed. Mowers move around the city boulevards and parks, so communication is essential If a Chamaecyparis has died of P.lateralis then a when trying to protect vulnerable areas in Beacon non- host to the fungus should be replanted at that Hill Park. Friends planted native plants near the new site. The disease already exists in the soil through- crosswalk area of Southgate last fall, and park staff out Victoria, Vancouver and extends from northern planted Garry Oak saplings near ornamental trees California to southern British Columbia. Asiatic along the Heywood Meadow. Miscommunications Chamaecyparis and Alaska-cedar (C. nootkatensis) with replacement mowers caused these treasurers to are more resistant than Lawson cypress. Upgrading be mowed under.