REGIONAL DISTRICT OF NORTH OKANAGAN MINUTES of a meeting of the INVASIVE PLANT COMMITTEE held at the Regional District of North Okanagan on April 16, 2008. Committee Members: Director Eugene Foisy, Chair Director Rick Fairbairn Councillor Dave Brew Mr. Randy Marchand Councillor Ron Christian Mr. Dave Ralph Mr. Rob Dinwoodie Ms. Donna Falat Electoral Area E Electoral Area D Township of Spallumcheen Okanagan Indian Band Splatsin Indian Band Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Ministry of Forests and Range Ministry of Transportation Others Present: Rose Gunoff Alycia Laidlaw Erin Gunoff Catherine MacRae Clint Kanester Area Supervisor, North Okanagan, BC Parks Senior Ranger, North Okanagan, BC Parks Senior Ranger, East Okanagan, BC Parks Invasive Plants Specialist, Range Branch MOF City of Vernon, Bylaw Enforcement Officer Staff: John Friesen Bylaw Enforcement Officer Christy Malden Recording Secretary Election of Chairperson The Bylaw Enforcement Officer called for nominations for the office of Chair of the Invasive Plant Committee. Councilor Brew nominated Director Foisy for the office of Chair. There being no further nominations, Director Foisy was declared elected by acclamation as Chair of the Invasive Plant Committee for 2008. Director Foisy assumed the Chair. PART 1 CALL MEETING TO ORDER Chair Foisy called the meeting to order at 10:20 a.m.
Invasive Plant Committee 2 April 16, 2008 PART 2 APPROVAL OF AGENDA AS PRESENTED Seconded by Donna Falat THAT the agenda of the April 16, 2008, regular meeting of the Invasive Plant Committee BE APPROVED as presented. PART 3 INTRODUCTION OF LATE ITEMS Moved by Donna Falat THAT item 8c. being General Discussion Period BE ADDED to the Agenda as a late item. THAT item 8d. being Presentation of Invasive Alien Plant Program database BE ADDED to the Agenda as a late item. THAT item 8e. being a request from Ministry of Environment Parks Branch that Lisa Tedesco, Ecosystem Biologist with the Ministry of Environment be allowed to sit as a member of the Invasive Plant Committee BE ADDED to the Agenda as a late item. PART 4 ADOPTION OF MINUTES a. Noxious Weed Committee May 10, 2007 Seconded by Donna Falat THAT the minutes of the May 10, 2007, regular meeting of the Invasive Plant Committee BE ADOPTED as circulated. b. Noxious Weed Committee (Non Quorum) November 14, 2007. THAT the notes of the November 14, 2007, (Non Quorum) of the Invasive Plant BE RECEIVED for information. The Bylaw Enforcement Officer clarified the following: Planning for the Education Day which was referred to in the notes will be organized in conjunction with Rob Dinwoodie, Ministry of Forests. As Mr. Dinwoodie has been assigned to work out of Kamloops for a time, the planning may be delayed.
Invasive Plant Committee 3 April 16, 2008 Contacts from the Cattlemen Association were invited to the Fall meeting, however no representatives attended. Lee Hesketh was suggested as a new contact from this Association. With regards to the Common Reed along the Swan Lake Corridor, the treatment plan is to cut and treat with Glyphosate. Efforts continue to involve Splatsin in both the Invasive Plant Committee and the treatment of invasive plants on adjacent lands. Sulphur Cinquefoil has been reported at the Vance Creek ecological reserve. Director Fairbairn noted that his property was adjacent, and if the weed was coming from his property he would cooperate and take all measures to eradicate. The unidentified chrysanthemum site, which Rob Dinwoodie noted will be inspected in late spring when the rosettes can be viewed. The Marsh plume thistle site on Trinity Valley Road was inspected by Catherine MacRae, Range Branch and 18 rosettes were hand pulled. The intent is to eradicate the Marsh Plume Thistle at this site. Catherine s crew will notify the Bylaw Enforcement Officer of when they are in the area. PART 5 - PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS PART 6 BUSINESS ARISING FROM PETITIONS AND DELEGATIONS PART 7 CORRESPONDENCE PART 8 NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. RDNO Noxious Weed Season Report 2007 Report from John Friesen, Bylaw Enforcement Officer RDNO Noxious Weed Season Report 2007. Moved by Donna Falat THAT the report from John Friesen, Bylaw Enforcement Officer RDNO Noxious Weed Season Report 2007 BE RECEIVED for information.
Invasive Plant Committee 4 April 16, 2008 b. RDNO Noxious Weed Season Plan 2008. Report from John Friesen, Bylaw Enforcement Officer - RDNO Noxious Weed Season Plan 2008. THAT the report from John Friesen, Bylaw Enforcement Officer RDNO Noxious Weed Season Plan 2008 BE RECEIVED for information, and further THAT the report be FORWARDED to the Electoral Area Services Committee for approval. The Bylaw Enforcement Officer updated the committee on the following: FUNDING - Confirmed funding of $14,000 from Ministry of Transportation. Fees for Service has increased due to the addition of Ministry of Environment to the program. CREW - Three crew members are returning from last season, with the fourth starting on May 5, 2008. Catherine MacRae has agreed to train the Weed Crew on data entry into the Invasive Alien Plant Program database. EQUIPMENT including purchase of new 100 gallon spray tank, new magnetic signs for the vehicle identifying the Invasive Plant Control Crew, servicing of hand equipment. Sale by bid of two existing - 300 gallon tanks and the electric stick welder. SAFETY - Highway 97 around Grindrod and several other spots are considered too narrow and busy for the crew to work safely on the side of the road. More signage is needed to alert motorists to the crew working. It was suggested that perhaps the work could be coordinated with a Ministry of Transportation contracted flagging crew. PUBLIC Letters have been sent out to property owners that received notices in 2007. All of the properties identified as infested and landowners given notices to treat last season will be inspected again this year to ensure compliance; Those residents who farm organically or have requested no spray are documented and a no-spray area is established by their property; It was noted that in the Similkameen, a no spray request will be honoured, with the understanding that the landowner is responsible for the hand pulling of all noxious weeds on adjacent land. If any noxious weeds are discovered on adjacent lands, they will be sprayed; No incidents of intervention, violence, or police presence needed within the City of Vernon, which currently uses only mechanical control;
Invasive Plant Committee 5 April 16, 2008 EDUCATION including: Posters and brochures that will be distributed; attendance at Farmers Markets; potted weeds for display; 30 second radio commercials; possible plant identification field trips with other agencies and First Nations groups. Catherine MacRae, Range Branch, MOF offered to make herself available to meet and partner with First Nations groups to tour known sites and encourage data gathering. IDENTIFIED SITES, including: St Annes pit in Spallumcheen rush skeletonweed is an issue as the gravel travels everywhere around the area the spread of this weed is inevitable; Lawrence pit (private) is adjacent to it; Swan Lake Corridor - Common Reed Grass is an issue in this area; Puncturevine has been identified at a residence on Grandview flats (St Anne s area). It is believed to have originated from produce boxes brought in from Oliver, BC. Puncturevine is a vast problem in the South Okanagan, affecting industries such as wineries, as well as First Nations, public, and private lands. BIOCONTROL AGENTS Due to the closure of the Agriculture Canada propagation site in 2006, Range Branch is currently establishing sites and will be providing bioagents in the near future. Possible collection sites for Canada thistle agents might be Lang property & Kekuli Bay. Ministry of Transportation in partnership with the Invasive Plant Council has developed a Best Management Practices program for contractors providing ditching and other maintenance services. This program will be provided around the province, and it was suggested that the municipalities would be interested as well. c. General Discussion Period It was suggested that the Invasive Plants Coordinator attend the SOSIPS meeting in the South Okanagan or Boundary to the East, to observe the committee and its meeting structure, and encourage open communication between districts; The Okanagan Basin Water Board deals with aquatic weeds within the Regional District.
Invasive Plant Committee 6 April 16, 2008 d. Invasive Alien Plant Program database Presentation by Catherine MacRae, Range Branch, MOF Due to time constraints and technical difficulties the database was not presented at the meeting. To view the program- http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hra/plants/application.htm e. Request for appointment as a member of the Invasive Plant Committee Moved by Donna Falat THAT the Invasive Plant Committee RECOMMEND to the Regional Board that Ministry of Environment, Parks Branch representative Lisa Tedesco be appointed to sit as a member of the Invasive Plant Committee. PART 9 ADJOURNMENT / NEXT MEETING There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:01 a.m. Certified Correct: Chair Corporate Officer