Annual Report 2021-2022
Mission
Vision
Toprotectecosystemsand communitiesbypreventing andreducingtheharmful impactsofinvasivespecies .
Ecosystems,communities andtheregionaleconomyare healthierbecausetheharmful impactsfromthespread ofinvasivespecieshave beenreduced.TheCentral KootenayInvasiveSpecies Society(CKISS)educates, workswith,andcallstoaction arearesidents,visitors,anda diverserangeofcommunities and organizations.
Aninvasivespeciesisaspeciesthatisnotnativetoaspecificlocation, andthathasatendencytospreadtoadegreethatcausesdamagetothe environment,humaneconomyorhumanhealth.
Purposes
aborati oll
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C
ucation Ed
entory Inv
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eventio Pr
Action
er t Exp ise
Toraiseawareness andeducateabout invasivespeciesand theirimpactsinthe area
Topromote coordinatedand collaborative managementof invasivespecies
Todevelop andmaintaina comprehensive inventoryofinvasive specieswithinthe area
Topreventfurther introductionor spreadofinvasive speciesinthearea
Toworktowards thecontrolor containmentof highlyinvasive species
Toprovideaconduit forinformationand asourceofexpertise oninvasivespecies
Message from Chair & Executive Director During the past year, the compounding effects of climate change became clearly apparent in many ways. Through an unprecedented heat dome in June, followed by a devastating fire season and floods which ravaged many areas of our province, residents of BC and the Central Kootenays came face to face with a new reality. Here at CKISS, we focussed on continuing to deliver and expand our programs, with the knowledge that invasive species impacts will be magnified by climate change. I would like to thank our incredible Board and staff for everything they do. Their hard work and dedication are a key part of making CKISS a sustainable organization with the ability to foster long term change that will help protect our small corner of the world in a critical time. Erin Bates, Executive Director
he past year has certainly brought T challenges, and we are all getting rather tired of The PermaCrisis. Kind of like
working to keep invasive species out of our ecosystems. They never let up, and every season brings new issues to address. CKISS reached new levels of scope and effectiveness in 2021, but the work is certainly not over. We are all deeply aware of climate change, and of the pathways that it opens for non-native species to move into, and potentially dominate, local ecosystems. On behalf of the Board, I would like to say we are extremely proud of the dedicated and creative CKISS staff members. This organization, and the critical work it does, absolutely depends on them and on our hard working contractors. Thank you so much, all of you! Tom Bradley, President
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BuildingCapacitywithLocalGovernment
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Co
The Regional District of Central Kootenay is gearing up to protect the Central Kootenays from invasive species with plans to inventory all RDCK properties and develop an implementation plan for the RDCK Invasive Species Strategy
CKISS conducted a citywide inventory of invasive plants for the City of Nelson and the Village of Slocan this summer. This led to Invasive Plant management plans for both. Kudos Nelson and Slocan!
In Your Garden
E xp
er ti s e
PlantingNowforthe Future! With the help of it’s partners KinSeed, Elk Root Conservation Farm and the Kootenay Native Plant Society, CKISS produced a top list of native and non-invasive cultivars that thrive in our region and meet the EcoGarden criteria of: ClimateSmart, FireSmart, WaterSmart, and Wildlife Friendly
EcoGarden PlantList
TaraGleboC
Community learning to be PlantWise
evention Pr
27 #BePlantWise social media posts 655 PlantWise resources distributed 6 Garden stores received PlantWise program
SpecialRecognition
Olga Hallborg boosted CKISS community weed pull and native planting events at the Kootenay Gallery with a passion for protecting biodiversity and action. Thank you Olga for all that you do!
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Making a Difference on the Ground 69plant species treated over218 ha
Surveys for 91 priorityplant specieswere conducted
15 partners particpatedin theprogram
Co
lla
boratio
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Knotweedisoneofthe10worst invasivespeciesglobally.Knotweed continuestospreadintheregion.
ority plants
r high pri Watch out fo
JamesSt.JohnCCBY2.0
black henbane
IanAlexander
garlic mustard
LeslieJMehrhoC
JLeekie
periwinkle
CFischer
flowering rush
ent ev io
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Don’t p la these! nt
purple loosestrife
Pr
marsh plume thistle
JMaugnCCBY-NC2.0
butterfly bush
yellow flag iris (photos:courtesy)
18
kilometersofthe SlocanValleyRailTrail wasinventoriedfor invasiveplants
entory Inv
Desitethewidespreadnature ofspottedknapweed,a17km surveyofNextCr.intheDarwoods ConservationAreafoundno knotweed.
ISCBC ISCBC
Stronger BC Crew CKISS provided a workplan and regional insight to the Invasive Species Council of BC led StrongerBC program. The StrongerBC crew inventoried and treated targeted species including scotch broom, blueweed, hoary alyssum, wild chervil, and Himalayan balsam on lands covering 11 jurisdictions. Invasive Plant Removal Four summer students enthusiastically removed and disposed of 133,386 kg of invasive plants. That is 44% more than the previous season!
Utility Right-of-Ways CKISS controlled invasive plants along powerline and gas line right-of-ways for 5 utility companies. No Mow Signs Bright yellow No Mow signs were installed along road ways througout the region to stop the spread of knotweed through roadside maintenance.
io Act n
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Preventing the Spread of Aquatic Invaders ZebraandQuaggaMussel MonitoringProgram
NO NVTTFMT EFUFDUFEJO QMBOLUPOTBNQMFT TVCTUSBUFTBNQMFSTBU TJUFTPO XBUFS CPEJFT
n
eventio Pr
American BullfrogActionTeamegg NO ProtectstheNorthernLeopardFrog masses American bullfrog control efforts 2 5 bullfrogsremoved started in 2016. This year no breeding was detected in the Creston Valley. 821 visual surveysinthe Most of the adults found were in the first 8 km from the Idaho border. The CrestonValleyand closest bullfrog was 17 km from the 7 2 kmoftheKootenay endangered Northern leopard frog population. As well, 293 bullfrogs were River removed from a pond in Nelway. io Act n
Koot enayRiparian InvasivePlant Project
sites found on 62 100 km of shoreline 4.8 ha treated across 8 sites
During year one of this project, over 100 km of shoreline between Balfour and South Slocan was inventoried to document the current extent of yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).
I
entory nv
du
Asian clams were discovered in the Pend D’Oreille River in March 2021. In high densities Asian clams cause biodiversity loss, alter water chemistry and and cause biofouling of pipes and water treatment systems. Follow-up surveys conducted by CKISS on the nearby Columbia River found 0 detections.
catio
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AsianClamsDiscoveredinthe PendD’Oreille
E
Matt Morrison
CleanDrainDry
“I learned that you should clean your boat after you use it (to prevent the spread of invasive species)” - Robson Elementary Student
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Community Takes Action CKISScontinuestoincrease communityengagement
459 459
651
YOUTH AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS 70% increase
YOUTH DIRECTLY REACHED THROUGH 20 EVENTS AND PRESENTATIONS
1,67 PEOPLE DIRECTLY REACHED THROUGH 69 EVENTS AND PRESENTATIONS
ucation Ed
Inspiring Citizens to Take Action Community Weed Pulls
CKISShadarecord 7 1 Communi tyWeedPulleventsin! 1 2 0 2
3,61
iresources distributed
41%
132
public requestsfor informationwith ofrequestsrelatedto knotweed.
Thisyearwehadover360adult andyouthvolunteers.Events wereheldinNelson,Rossland, Nakusp,Robson,Trail,New Denver,Castlegar,Salmo,Hills andGlade.There’salittlebit lessScotchbroom,yellowflag iris,greensorrel,knapweed andhoaryalyssuminour regionthankstoourfabulous volunteers.
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REDUCING THE IMPACTS OF INVASIVE SPECIES THROUGH RESTORATION Action
Snk’Mip Marsh
300 native tree seedlings and shrubs planted Beaver Creek Provincal Park 163
communitymembershave participatedinrestorationover4 years
EcoGa rdenproject Invasivespeciesprioritylists Othernewsandblogposts ParksCanadaboatregulations Contactandhiring Invasivepla ntprofiles Gia nthogweedinfo
Homepage
Otherwebpages
Giant hogweed is not prevelant in region but is widespread on the coast of BC
20
Kootenay Gallery 10
nativeandpollinatorplants installedbyvolunteersforthe communitygarden
976
INTERVIEWS AND SOCIAL MEDIA NEWSPAPER FOLLOWERS ARTICLES 7% Increase
28,0
31
YOUTUBE VIEWS
827
CKISS’N TELL NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS
WEBSITE HITS
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Building Capacity with Sustained Funding Funding
650,678 2019 2021 2022
659,020 $ 807,267 $ 911,163
2021 Program Budget
InvasivePlantManagementProgram EducationProgram AquaticInvasiveSpeciesProgram Zebra&QuaggaMusselMonitoring AmericanBullfrogEradication
41%
C
on
Thank you to our funders
aborati oll
2021 Funding Sources 27% 12%
Crown and Private Corporations
Government of BC
Columbia Power
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
BCHydro FortisBC Energy Teck Metals Ltd. 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
10%
4%
Local Government
Government of Canada
Regional District of Kootenay Boundary
EcoActionEnvironment and Climate Change Canada
Regional District of Central Kootenay City of Nelson Village of Slocan
Canada Summer JobsEmployment and Social Development
5% Non-profit organizations and other Nature Conservancy Canada Nature Trust of BC
1% First Nation Government
Okanagan Nation Alliance
Invasive Species Council of BC EcoCanada Columbia Basin Watershed Network
BC Parks BC Gaming
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ProtecttheKootenays
Board Members Tom Bradley President Heather Myers Vice President Malcolm Fitz-Earle Secretary Terry Anderson Treasurer Tom Newell
Janine Dougall
Eleanor Duifhuis Allan Freeborn
Genevieve Bergeron Norm Allard
SpecialRecognition
Tanmay Deshpande was an enthusiastic volunteer at the Kootenay Gallery native plating event and spent many hours helping CKISS set up a new online membership process. Thanks Tanmay for all your work! LaurieCarr
Team Erin Bates Executive Director Khaylish Fraser Aquatic Program Coordinator Laurie Frankcom Education Program Coordinator Laurie Carr Development Coordinator Kalenna Olnyk Field Program Manager Nerissa Abbott Senior Field Technician Jaymie Johnson Program Assistant Vanessa Hoskins Invasive Species Technician Tara Gleboff Education Assistant
Kevin Rossi Invasive Species Technician
Eloise Sutton Invasive Species Technician
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TheCentralKootenayInvasiveSpecies Society’sworkingregionisapproximately 2 30,5km .ItencompassestheRegional DistrictofCentralKootenay,aswellas AreasAandBoftheRegionalDistrict ofKootenayBoundary.Thisregionis locatedinthesouthwesternportionof theCanadianColumbiaRiverbasin,in southeasternBC.
www.ckiss.ca info@ckiss.ca 1-(84)35260 Suite19-62FrontSt. Nelson,BCV1L4B7
Artwork:CelesteMoola,LaurieCarr,PaigeThurston Icons:FreepikandMavabeefromwww.flatiron.com