Restoration Species Manual for the Pacific Northwest Project: R02-41 Annual Report April 1, 2002 to March 31, 2003 Prepared by: David F. Polster, Project Leader Polster Environmental Services Ltd. 5953 Deuchars Drive Duncan, B.C. V9L 1L5 e-mail: [email protected] Abstract Information on about 225 species that can be used for restoration is presented in the Restoration Species Manual* for the Pacific Northwest. The manual presents current information on the nomenclature of the species, a brief description of the distribution and origin of the species as well as information on the growth form and reproduction of the species. Each citation lists the ecological setting for the species and the tolerances and preferences for each species including soil texture, nutrient status, soil reaction and salinity, moisture regime preferences, shade tolerance, mowing / grazing tolerance, disease and pest tolerance and response to fire. Considerations for restoration including the successional status, erosion control and soil building characteristics, wildlife and riparian use, ethnobotanical considerations, availability, establishment techniques, commercial value and the current status of the species for restoration are presented for each species. A summary of the important features of each species along with a sketch of the plant and a range map are provided on the first page of the species citation. The introduction to the Restoration Species Manual presents an overview of restoration processes and the roles of different groups of species in restoration programs. References are provided for key statements so that those that wish can go back into the literature for additional information that may be of interest to them. It is expected that the manual will form a valuable tool for those engaged in restoration projects. Work on the manual has been ongoing since 1996. * Keywords are highlighted. - 1 - Table of Contents Page Abstract 1 Table of Contents 2 1.0 INTRODUCTION 3 2.0 METHODS 3 3.0 DISCUSSION 6 4.0 EXTENSION 6 5.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 6 APPENDICES Appendix 1. Species Citations Appendix Pages 1 to 86 Appendix 2. Species List Appendix Pages 87 to 100 Appendix 3. 2003 CLRA Paper Appendix Pages 101 to 108 Appendix 4. References Cited Appendix Pages 109 to 136 - 2 - ________________________________________________________________________ 1.0 INTRODUCTION ________________________________________________________________________ Information on vascular plant species that can be used for restoration is currently scattered thorough a number of sources as well as deeply buried in the literature. This makes it difficult for those engaged in restoration to access information on species that might be used. Although a similar manual was prepared for Alberta in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s (Watson et al. 1980), no such manual exists for British Columbia and the unique ecosystems of the province. The Alberta manual (“Manual of Plant Species Suitability for Reclamation in Alberta”) was so popular that it went out of print and was revised, expanded and reprinted in 1989 (Hardy BBT 1989). It is expect the Restoration Species Manual for the Pacific Northwest will be equally well received. Work on the Restoration Species Manual during the year 2002/03 has consisted of continuing to compile individual species citations. Modifications to the original list of species were made during the past year to include several species that were considered by some to be important. In addition, discussions were held with researchers from the Pacific Forestry Centre (Canadian Forestry Service) about the species manual and the species that were to be treated by the manual. Discussions on the organization of the species citations were held, although no conclusions have been reached. At present, the order of species citations will be by major group (trees and shrubs; forbs; and graminoids) with the individual citations organized by alphabetical order within these larger groupings. Nomenclature for the species cited in the list was revised to conform with the Illustrated Flora of British Columbia (Douglas et al, 1998-2001). ________________________________________________________________________ 2.0 METHODS ________________________________________________________________________ The Restoration Species Manual is a compendium of information on species that are or could be used for restoration work in the Pacific Northwest and therefore is not a scientific study in the normal sense of the term. Information contained in the manual has been collected from a wide variety of sources. References used in the manual are provided in Appendix 4. Information has been gathered by electronic means as well as more traditional research methods. Files of the information collected for each species are prepared so that information may be consulted again in the future without the fear of electronic sources changing. Key information is gathered from the United States Department of Agriculture Fire Effects Information System; from TREECD; from BIOSYS; and from other electronic sources. The search engine “Google” has uncovered a wealth of information on specific species that would not have been found in the more traditional literature searches. - 3 - The list of species (Appendix 2) that are to be included in the manual has been updated with the inclusion of several more species that have been suggested as being useful for restoration purposes. The list and/or information on the manual was circulated to a large segment of the restoration community in British Columbia including distribution on the Restoration of Natural Systems listserve, the Native Plant Society of BC listserve, the Forestry Continuing Studies list and the Botany BC list. Table 1 provides a list of the people who have expressed an interest in the manual and who were sent information about the manual (species list and example citations). Drawings for the Restoration Species Manual come from two sources. Dr. T.C. Brayshaw has granted permission for the use of drawings from his “Trees and Shrubs of British Columbia” (Brayshaw 1996) for the manual. In addition, Andrew Harcombe of the Conservation Data Centre authorized the use of drawings contained in the Illustrated Flora of British Columbia (Douglas et al. 1998-2001). Figure 1 shows an example of one of the drawings from the Illustrated Flora. A base map has been obtained from Steve Fick, cartographer at Canadian Geographic. The map that is to be used to illustrate the distribution is shown in Figure 2. Table 1 Persons Who Have Received Information on the Restoration Species Manual for the Pacific Northwest Affolter, Natalie Deal, Heather Pollard, Brad Archibold, Ross Ellis, Doug Rasmussen, Jacquie Barton, Wes Ennis, Tim Rodney, Jim Blight, Jim Fuchs, Marilyn Scheer, Robert Brayshaw, Chris, Gray, Don Seaton, Robert Bridgeman, Robert Hartwell, Sharon Smreciu, Ann Brill, Steve Haynes, John Sue Hemphill Burns, Ted Hill, Harry Turner, Nancy Carson, Ernie Holden, Brendan Uidall-Ekman, Karen Ceska, Adolf Keefer, Michael Vaartnou, Manivald Chambers, Kimberlee Kotilla, Wendy Wahlgren, Richard Charles, Kim Lantz, Trevor Warttig, Warren Coupe, Ray Maslovat, Carrina Williams, Harry Cummings, Jeff McCullah, John Woodward, Paige de Greeff, Paul Miller, Patricia Yazvenko, Sergei - 4 - Figure 1. Drawing of Acer circinatum (vine maple) from the Illustrated Flora of British Columbia (Douglas et al, 1998 – 2001) that is in the Restoration Species Manual. Figure 2. This base map of the Pacific Northwest will be used to show plant distribution. Note that this map has been screened back to allow the species distribution to stand out. The best tool for overlaying the species distribution information on the base map has yet to be determined. - 5 - ________________________________________________________________________ 3.0 DISCUSSION ________________________________________________________________________ It is clear from the response to the Restoration Species Manual that the manual will be a a useful tool for those engaged in restoration. The completed citations are extensive and provide a significant amount of information that is not readily available elsewhere. Although there are many more citations to be completed, the work that has been undertaken to date has provided a firm foundation upon which to proceed. Appendix 1 presents the citations that have been completed to date. ________________________________________________________________________ 4.0 EXTENSION ________________________________________________________________________ Information about the Restoration Species Manual has been provided on a number of electronic lists and has generated considerable interest in the manual. In addition, a paper citing the manual will be presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Land Reclamation Association held in Sudbury May 25th through 28th. Appendix 3 provides the paper that will be printed in the proceedings of this national organization. Presentations to Restoration of Natural Systems classes at the University of Victoria have been made on October 15, 2001 and March 10-14, 2003. ________________________________________________________________________ 5.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ________________________________________________________________________ The Restoration Species Manual for the Pacific Northwest has generated a significant amount of interest in the restoration community. The large amount of information that has been collected provides a substantial resource for and access