Purple loosestrife
2022-2023 Annual Report
Mission
To protect ecosystems and communities by preventing and reducing the harmful impacts of invasive species.
Vision
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.
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.
Japanese butterbur
Message from President & Executive Director
Duringthe 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
As this Annual Report sets out, CKISS had another extremely productive year working to keep invasive species out of the Central Kootenays, and to control the spread of the species that are already here. The threats posed by invasives to biodiversity and existing habitats are recognized by communities and governments across the globe. CKISS is proud to do our part.
Every year, I mention the incredible work done by the CKISS Staff. There would be no CKISS and no programs without them. They are simply world class. This year, I also want to send a big thank you to the dedicated CKISS Board and our many members. CKISS is a Society. We need members, and we need members who are willing to sit on a strategic management Board, to function. Thank you to all of you for contributing to keep CKISS rolling forward!
Tom Bradley, President
2022-23
Making a Difference on the Ground
,
8,998 kg of invasive plants were removed!
82 plant species treated over 216 ha
7 biocontrol agents surveyed
Wrote 2 management plans- Beaver Cr. Prov. Park and the Columbia Power 84L transmission line
Japanese butterbur tree of heaven
Watch out for these high priority plants
Surveys for Japanese butterbur confirmed 7 sites. Do not plant this species...control it and report it.
Anyone smell rotten peanut butter? 17 sites found of the uniquely scented tree of heaven in Creston, Lower Arrow, Nelson and Slocan Valley areas. This invasive tree also acts as a host for the highly destructive agricultural pest, the spotted lanternfly.
, Regional District of Central Kootenay lands inventoried for invasive plants
45 invasive plants found over 1000 surveys at 139 sites
NO provincial prevent species found
samples
4 substrate samplers at 36 sites on 10 waterbodies
Preventing the Spread of Aquatic Invaders
This year marks the first time American bullfrogs were found in the endangered northern leopard frog range!
496 bullfrogs removed in Nelway & Creston Valley
696 removed in Kootenay
River- the primary corridor from Idaho
Eleanor Duifhuis
2022-23
Terry Anderson
ZERO Zebra and Quagga mussel detections
Community Takes Action
CKISS continues to increase community engagement
ATTENDED presentations
46% increase
567
YOUTH engaged
506
2,154 PEOPLE DIRECTLY REACHED THROUGH 80 EVENTS AND PRESENTATIONS VOLUNTEERS
500 815
MEDIA posts, articles and newsletters
Special Recognition
“I just wanted to thank you (CKISS) once more...you truly did reawaken our awareness of the concerns surrounding invasive species, and the need to take determined steps toward eradicating them from our gardens...I’m certain that you’ve given all of us a renewed sense of commitment to making some necessary changes in our garden spaces.” – Terrance Gerling, Castlegar Garden Club.
SCIENCE inspires YOUTH
STEMming Invasive species
Launched in 2022, this NSERC PromoScience youth program seeks to inspire female and indigenous youth to follow careers that use STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) to solve pressing environmental issues.
“The best part of the CKISS field trip was planting native species because it was a new experience for most of them, and giving them hands-on connection to the land is often the most important part of learning.” – Ami Starzner
Youth had the chance to participate in Community Science and experience the work of professionals in the invasive species world!
REDUCING THE IMPACTS OF INVASIVE SPECIES ON FRESHWATER QUALITY
Thanks to the EcoAction community funding program, local communties pitched in to restore riparian habitat at 3 critical waterbodies- Bonanza Biodiversity Corridor (Slocan Valley), Jubilee Wetland (Rossland) & Harrop Sunshine Bay
Regional Park
Yellow flag iris pull and weaving workshop
Local artist and CKISS staff, Jaymie Johnson showed how invasive plant waste can be safely re-purposed in this popular workshop
Ecogarden workshop at the Kootenay Gallery of Art
KinSeed Ecologies Bren Beckwith inspired a large group of gardeners to design, learn and garden with native plants.
2022-23
The NetworkSpotter’sworks to stop the spread of invasive species though community reporting
86
reports
to CKISS
718 iNaturalist plant reports
23 reports of high priority plants verified in field
Spotter’s Network gets a boost
Thanks to the Regional District of Central Kootenay’s Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund, and Living Lakes Canada, community science volunteers trained and then monitored and surveyed for purple loosestirife, yellow flag iris, invasive clams and zebra and quagga mussels along Kootenay Lake.
Protecting Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Riparian Plant Project
Yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) are being documented and removed along the west arm of Kootenay Lake, protecting hydrology, wetlands and infrastructure.
kg removed
22 sites fieldwork days volunteer surveys
Thank you to our 88 partners
Building Capacity with Sustained Funding
2022-23 Program Budget
2022-23 Funding Sources
Invasive Plant Management Program Aquatic Invasive Species Program Education Program
Crown and Private Corporations 34% Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program RAP contracting Columbia Power BCHydro Teck Metals Ltd. FortisBC Energy BC Parks Government of BC 24% Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Ministry of Forests BC Gaming Trusts and Foundations 12% Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation Columbia Basin Trust Local Government 18% City of Nelson City of Trail Regional District of Kootenay Boundary Regional District of Central Kootenay Kootenay Lake Local Conservation Fund Government of Canada 4% Canada Summer JobsEmployment and Social Development Canada National Science and Engineering Research Council EcoActionEnvironment and Climate Change Canada First Nation Government 1% Okanagan Nation Alliance Non-profit organizations and other 9% Nature Conservancy of Canada Nature Trust of BC EcoCanada Columbia Basin Watershed Network Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society Invasive Species Council of BC $935,500 66% 20% 14% 2022-23
Thank you to our 27 funders
Protect the Kootenays
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
Linda Kalbun
Missing: Eleanor Duifhuis, Allan Freeborn, Genevieve Bergeron
Laurie Carr
Special Recognition
Eric Sargent is passionate about protecting the beautiful shores of Kootenay Lake which he calls home. As a community scientist he participated in both the Zebra and Quagga mussel monitoring program and the riparian surveying program. Our Spotter’s Network is stronger thanks to Eric!
Special Recognition
Rob Richardson is committed to keeping trails and recreation areas free of invasive species. As a board member of the Friends of the Rossland Range he was instrumental in installing a new Play Clean Go boot and bike brush kiosk at the trailhead of the popular Seven Summits Trail. Thanks Rob for all your work!
Erin Bates Executive Director
Khaylish Fraser Aquatics Program Coordinator
Laurie Frankcom Education Program Coordinator
Laurie Carr Development Coordinator
Kalenna Olynyk Field Program Manager
Nerissa Abbott Assistant Field Program Manager
Jaymie Johnson Program Assistant
Alicia Guay Invasive Species Technician
Sydney Zimmer Invasive Species Technician
Terri McRitchie Invasive Species Technician
Nina Sylvester Invasive Species Technician
2022-23
Team
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
