B.C. SPARTINA RESPONSE PLAN 2010 PREPARED FOR: Dan Buffett Ducks Unlimited Canada 13370 – 78th Avenue, Unit 511 Surrey, BC V3W 0H6 PREPARED BY: Keri Dresen (EDI Environmental Dynamics Ltd.) Lisa Scott (Eco-Matters Consulting) Gary Williams (GL Williams & Associates Ltd.) EDI CONTACT: KERI DRESEN (250) 562-5412 EDI PROJECT NO.: 09-BC-0092 MARCH 2010 PRINCE GEORGE, BC ▪ VANCOUVER, BC ▪ WHITEHORSE, YT ▪ GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB WWW.EDYNAMICS.COM BC Spartina Response Plan 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................................................... 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 1 PROBLEM DEFINTION ........................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 WHY IS SPARTINA A PROBLEM? ......................................................................................................................................................... 7 2 SPARTINA INVASION HISTORY AND ERADICATION EFFORTS IN THE PACIFIC NORTH WEST .... 10 2.1 CALIFORNIA ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 OREGON ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 2.3 WASHINGTON ................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 2.4 BRITISH COLUMBIA ........................................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.4.1 Prior To The Initiation Of The BC Spartina Working Group .................................................................................................... 12 2.4.2 2003 – BC Spartina Working Group Formed ........................................................................................................................... 12 2.4.3 2004 – Spartina Eradication Plan Implemented ......................................................................................................................... 13 2.4.4 2005 – Boundary Bay inventory, Burrard Inlet and Vancouver Island, Cross – Border Meeting .................................................. 14 2.4.5 2006 – Drift Card Study Initiated ............................................................................................................................................. 14 2.4.6 2007 – Monitored Excavator Burial Method, Developed Outreach Materials. ............................................................................. 14 2.4.7 2008 – Covering Technique Trials Initiated ................................................................................................................................ 15 3 SPARTINA ECOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................. 16 3.1 TAXONOMY ................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 3.2 DISTRIBUTION IN BRITISH COLUMBIA ............................................................................................................................. 17 3.3 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY .............................................................................................................................................. 18 3.4 REPRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................................................... 20 3.5 SEED PRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................... 21 3.6 DISPERSAL ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 3.7 NATURAL CONTROL OF POPULATIONS ........................................................................................................................... 23 3.8 ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF SPARTINA ............................................................................................................................... 23 4 SPARTINA ERADICATION TOOLKIT ................................................................................................................. 26 EDI Project #: 09-BC-0092 EDI ENVIRONMENTAL DYNAMICS INC i BC Spartina Response Plan 2010 4.1 BIOLOGICAL CONTROL METHODS .................................................................................................................................................. 26 4.2 PHYSICAL CONTROL METHODS ...................................................................................................................................................... 26 4.2.1 Hand Removal - Digging ............................................................................................................................................................ 26 4.2.2 Mowing Or Seed Clipping ........................................................................................................................................................... 27 4.2.3 Covering ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 4.2.4 Excavator Digging ...................................................................................................................................................................... 29 4.3 CHEMICAL CONTROL METHODS ..................................................................................................................................................... 29 4.3.1 Type Of Herbicide Used ............................................................................................................................................................. 30 4.3.2 Application Methods .................................................................................................................................................................. 30 4.4 JURISDICTION OF SPARTINA OCCUPIED AREAS ............................................................................................................................ 32 4.5 PERMITTING ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 32 4.5.1 Biological Control ....................................................................................................................................................................... 32 4.5.2 Physical Control ......................................................................................................................................................................... 33 4.5.3 Chemical Control ........................................................................................................................................................................ 33 4.6 SPARTINA DETECTION METHODS .................................................................................................................................................. 34 4.6.1 Aerial Detection ......................................................................................................................................................................... 35 4.6.2 Boat Detection ............................................................................................................................................................................ 36 4.6.3 Shore-Based Walking ................................................................................................................................................................. 36 4.6.4 Orthophotos And Remote Sensing ............................................................................................................................................... 37 5 BC SPARTINA ERADICATION PROGRAM ......................................................................................................... 38 5.1 SPARTINA PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION ...................................................................................................... 38 5.2 PREVENTION ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 40 5.3 EARLY DETECTION AND RAPID RESPONSE .................................................................................................................................. 41 5.3.1 Early Detection .......................................................................................................................................................................... 42 5.3.2 Rapid Response .........................................................................................................................................................................