Invasive Species Management

Invasive species are a major threat to native ecosystems and often degrade vital habitat areas. This is why invasive species management is a particular focus of ours. Areas of concern within the Bridge River Valley watershed include an important ungulate wintering range. One of these areas is the Five Mile Ridge where a forest fire in 2009 destroyed most of the vegetation. Several invasive plant species, like Giant Burdock (Articum lappa), Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense), Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) and Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea biebersteinii) quickly invaded the area thereby outcompeting indigenous species and negatively affecting the native ecology. These species have the capacity to aggressively reproduce and establish in a habitat, displacing original vegetation and crowding out rare and endangered species. Furthermore they reduce the quality and yield of crops and pose a threat to livestock and wildlife.

Since 2013 we have monitored, mapped and manually treated invasive species sites in the Bridge River Valley. This invasive species management project is designed to mechanically control and prevent further spreading of Giant Burdock and other invasive plant species in order to restore and preserve the native ecology of the South Chilcotin Mountains.