Annual Report 2020-2021
Mission To protect ecosystems and communities by preventing and reducing the harmful impacts of invasive species. An invasive species is a species that is not native to a specific location, and that has a tendency to spread to a degree that causes damage to the environment, human economy or human health.
Purposes of Society vention Pre
ucation Ed
To prevent further introduction or spread of invasive species in the area
To raise awareness and educate about invasive species and their impacts in the area Action
n
llaboratio Co
To work towards the control or containment of highly invasive species
To promote coordinated and collaborative management of invasive species E xp
entory Inv To develop and maintain a comprehensive inventory of invasive species within the area
Vision
er ti s e
To provide a conduit for information and a source of expertise on invasive species
Ecosystems, communities and the regional economy are healthier because the harmful impacts from the spread of invasive species have been reduced. The Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) educates, works with, and calls to action area residents, visitors, and a diverse range of communities and organizations.
Team and Board of Directors past year has been a study in contrasts: from adapting our programs and The working under the shadow of a global pandemic; to delivering our busiest season in the history of CKISS; to celebrating our 15th Anniversary and looking
back at the accomplishments and people who made it all happen. Looking back, my overwhelming feeling is one of gratitude- I awm thankful for the amazing staff, Board and partners who make it all happen, and I am also grateful for the efforts of front line health care workers and medical researchers around the world who have worked so hard to protect us and allow the important work of invasive species management, prevention and awareness to continue over the past 15 months. We are all looking forward to a brighter year, and many new opportunities on the horizon. Erin Bates, Executive Director
Kalenna Olnyk Field Program Manager
Khaylish Fraser Aquatic Program Coordinator
Nerissa Abbott Senior Field Technician
Laurie Frankcom Education Program Coordinator
Paige Thurston Invasive Species Technician
Laurie Carr Development Coordinator
Jessica Zimmer Invasive Species Technician
uring the 15 years since CKISS was founded, our organization has seen continual D growth and evolution as we find new opportunities to prevent and manage invasive species in the Central Kootenays. 2020-21 was no exception, with new projects starting
up while our long-term programs continued to thrive, even during a pandemic. We are excited to be celebrating our 15th anniversary and look forward to celebrating the next milestone. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank our dedicated staff and contractors, who work hard every day to carry out our mission and protect this beautiful region that we call h o m e . Tom Bradley, President
Heather Myers Vice President
Tom Newell
Malcolm Fitz-earle Secretary
Eleanor Duifhuis
Terry Anderson Treasurer
Janine Dougall Allan Freeborn Genevieve Bergeron Norm Allard
2020
2021
15 Years of Success
Tom Bradley, President, and board member since 2010
Juliet Craig, first Executive Director, 2005
Erin Bates, Executive Director and staff member since 2015
CKISS plays a unique role in the region, by addressing invasive species spread collaboratively and comprehensively. From education to prevention to contol. Remember, the Kootenays are linked to the rest of the world. River systems flow out of Canada and back into Canada into the Kootenays. We are part of a North American system and both sides of the border and adjoining provinces can be home to invasive species that we don’t want in British Columbia. There have been so many great accomplishments of CKISS over the last 15 years. Expanding the focus from plants to species, and addressing aquatic species which are a major threat to our lakes and waterways with invasive mussels and other aquatic invasive species. I think that the thinking around invasive species is becoming more holistic and CKISS is responding to that. I have seen the development of outreach between the Kootenay Native Plant Society for example, so not just addressing the invasive species, but addressing the ecosystem as a whole. More holistic look at conservation of our ecosystems, fish, wildlife and their habitats. Our greatest accomplishment has been the growth generally of awareness around invasive species in our region, and the building of our extremely large network of partners and friends and stakeholders including our incredible board and all of our members and our really strong staff team. The past 15 years have put CKISS is a really great position to reach many, many, people in the CKISS region. Overall the management of invasive species is a more collaborative and coordinated effort because CKISS exists. Our role is bringing together those people and helping that collaboration to happen.
New Developments Congratulations to the Village of Warfield! The Village successfully applied for a Columbia Basin Trust Large Environment grant to fund an inventory of municipal lands and to develop an Invasive Species Action Plan and Management Plan. CKISS conducted an inventory of all municipal lands in the Village during the summer of 2020. This enabled a detailed plan to be developed to guide prevention and control of the spread of invasive species in the Village of Warfield. The Village is the first municipality in the CKISS region to have a complete inventory, strategic and management plan. Thank you for the visionary leadership of the Village of Warfield council and staff
Warfield website
Presenations on the state of invasive species were given to the councils of Kaslo, Nakusp and Fruitvale. A Strategic Plan is under development for the Regional District of Central Kootenay.
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Nerissa Abbott joined the CKISS team in 2020 as the Senior Field Technician. Nerissa was previously a summer student and CKISS is happy to have her back. Nerissa brings a wealth of skills to the team including much needed map making abilities. Welcome aboard Nerissa!
Want to know which plants to use in your garden to help nature? Want to attract pollinators and make a difference? CKISS and partners, Elk Root Conservation Farm Society, Kinseed Ecologies and Kootenay Native Plant Soceity created an EcoGarden plant list. A list of plants that are suited for the Central Kootenay garden, the wildlife, and that address regional climate change, water, and wildfire issues.
2020
2021
Invasive Plant Management High 20 species surveyed and 5 treated on the Weed Control Act
50 species treated over 330 ha
h t for hig Watch o uy plants priorit
CKISS has significantly expanded the plant management program over the past15 years wild chervil
wild parsnip
Leslie J Mehrhoff
greater celandine
area surveyed (ha)
Don’t pl these ant !
periwinkle
flowering rush
butterfly bush
R Mueller
scentless chamomile
An extent survey of Wild chervil was conducted on utility rights of ways, crown land and a private conservation property. Wild chervil outcompetes other vegetation by shading them out with it’s height and dentisy.
yellow flag iris (photos: courtesy)
hlights Congratulations to the Nature Conservancy of Canada for preventing the further spread of invasive plants and protecing the Darkwoods Conservation Area, by following best manageent practices. In partnering with CKISS, they managed the invasive plants along roadways and landing areas before a prescribed Desite the widespread nature of spotted knapweed, a 17km survey of Next Cr. in the Darwoods Conservation Area found no knotweed. Spotted knapweed is “allelopathic.” This means that it releases a chemical into the soil which makes it hard for other plants to grow. Grasslands and rangelands are especially at risk of being overtaken by this species.
Thanks to the Regional District of Central Kootenay Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund, 10 landowners participated in a knotweed treatment cost share program. A waitlist for the program showed how excited landowners were to have support and help when managing such an invasive and hard to manage plant.
Knotweed was treated at Regional Districk of Central Kootenay resouce recovery facilities with knotweed patches fenced off at 4 sites to prevent further spread. Inventories were conducted at 8 facilities with some treatment conducted.
Conservation values, including a species at risk were protected at Beaver Cr. Provincial Park by inventorying and managing high priority invasive plants.
2020
2021
Aquatic Invasive Species Program NO zebra or quagga mussels detected in 270 plankton samples 4 substrates samples at 37 sites on 9 waterbodies
Since 2015 the Canadian Columbi Species Program has addressed ed management of aquatic invasi the program is proactive, strategi
Zebra and quagga mussel sample sites T. Malcolm
Khaylish Fraser, Aquatics Invasive Species Program Coordinator, retrieves a plankton sample from the Arrow lakes (above) and Sunshine Bay (background).
In 8 yrs, the zebra and quagga monitoring program has grown into a comprehensive program under strong funder support . 1178 plankton samples collected at 65 sites on 22 waterbodies.
Highlights
ia Basin Regional Aquatic Invasive ducation, prevention, response and ive species. With 21 members, ic, collaborative, and coordinated.
The American bullfrog program has
successfully piloted novel monitoring techniques such as the K9 detection team. The conservation K9 crew is pictured here
NO bullfrog breeding detected in 174 visual surveys 84% reduction in observed population from last year 212 eradicated by the American Bullfrog Action Team in the Kootenay River Valley
Nightime visual eyeshine surveys in the Creston
valley. Photo credit: Matt
Since 2015 American bullfrog control efforts have centered around the northern leopard frog recovery. In 2019 control efforts resulted in record observations and captures resulting in the low breeding this year. Control work has also been conducted on amajor source population in northern Idaho. In total the American bullfrog program has eradicated over 3000 specimens. Matt Morrison
2020
2021
Education and Outreach Highlight NEW! CKISS focussed education and outreach virtually with several new platforms that have proven a huge success. Watch our webinar series on YouTube (CKISS-learn about invasive species), use the CKISS guides on iNaturalist and keep up to speed on Instagram.
CKISS continues to increase community engagement
830
CKISS’N TELL NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS 6% Increase
545 YOUTUBE VIEWS
802
iNATURALIST OBSERVATIONS
204
INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS
1,282 18% PEOPLE DIRECTLY
INCREASE REACHED THROUGH IN CKISS EVENTS AND MEMBERSHIP PRESENTATIONS
Seven new Clean Drain Dry signs installed in region
Special Recognition
Online outreach continues to increase
18% 37,114 944 INCREASE IN FACEBOOK LIKES
WEBSITE HITS 18% Increase
Alison Masters and Catherine Prowse are the recipients of the CKISS 2020 Volunteer of the Year Award. The passionate mother daughter weed pulling duo have been volunteering with CKISS since 2007 by participating in Community Pulling Together Events at the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Centre (CVWMA). Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, a Community Pulling Together event took place this year at CVWMA with additional safety protocols and disinfection polices in
SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS 36% Increase
ts Summit Lake Provincal Park
Beaver Creek Provincial Park
For the second year in a row CKISS organized restoration efforts at an area previously dominated by invasive plants at the park. With the help of community and youth volunteers over 200 native plants were hand planted. The goal of the project is to improve the habitat for the western skink, rubber boa and American racer, species at risk that call the area home.
For the past four years CKISS has worked with BC Parks and students from Nakusp Elementary School to restore an area of the park to native plants. The trees and shrubs are thriving ! This year the students and planted 12 species and over 200 plants in a single day! A restoration seed blend was distributed to prevent invasive species from establishing in the soil disturbed by all the weeding and digging. This year the Grade 7 students helped CKISS staff design an interpretive sign to be installed at the site detailing their restoration activities.
Restoration Projects Snk’Mip Marsh CKISS once again joined force with the Valhalla Foundation for Ecology to remove invasive species and plant over 400 native species around the newly built wetland. These plants will outcompete invasive species, provide soil stability, help outcompete invasive species and encourage biodiversity. This accomplishment was made possible with the help of some amazing community volunteers, and students from Lucerne School in New Denver.
2020
2021
Financial Management Highlights Financial Update Funding History
650,678 2019
659,020
2020
807,267
2020 Program Budget Invasive Plant Management Program Education Program Aquatic Invasive Species Program Zebra & Quagga Mussel Monitoring American Bullfrog Eradication
s None of our accomplishments could occur without our 34 funders and stakeholders and our many contractors who help implement the operational and logistical work of CKISS. The Board thanks everyone for their efforts and contributions to the success of CKISS. - Tom Bradley, President-
2020 Funding Sources 39% 25% 12%
Crown and Private Corporations
Government of BC
Columbia Power
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
BCHydro FortisBC Energy Teck Metals Ltd. Sullivan Stone Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy Ministry of Forest Lands Natural Resources Operations and Rural Development
Trusts and Foundations
Columbia Basin Trust Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation TD Friends of the Environment Foundation
9%
7%
5%
1%
Local Government
Government of Canada
Non-profit organizations and other
First Nation Government
Regional District of Kootenay Boundary
EcoAction
BC Wildlife Federation
Okanagan Nation Alliance
Regional District of Central Kootenay Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund
Canada Summer Jobs EcoCanada
Nature Conservancy Canada Nature Trust of BC
City of Nelson Village of Warfield
BC Parks BC Gaming
2020
2021
The Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society’s working region is approximately 30,500 km2. It encompasses the Regional District of Central Kootenay, as well as Areas A and B of the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary. This region is located in the southwestern portion of the Canadian Columbia River basin, in southeastern BC.
www.ckiss.ca info@ckiss.ca 1-(844) 352-1160 Suite 19-622 Front St. Nelson, BC V1L 4B7
Artwork: Celeste Moola, Laurie Carr, Paige Thurston Icons: Freepik and Mavabee from www.flatiron.com