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2011 Year End Report

Kootenay Conservation Crew

2011 Year End Report

(Left to right: Eric, Laura, Katie, and Julie)

Submitted by Julie Tyrrell

Field Operations Coordinator- Kootenay Region October 4, 2011

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2011 Year End Report

Program Overview:

The Nature Trust of British Columbia (TNT) Kootenay Conservation Crew began its season on May 3, 2011. After a busy field season, the crew finished its work activities in Cranbrook on August 18, 2011. The 2011 crew split work efforts between TNT and Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO) Conservation Lands and specific Wildlife Projects. By all accounts, the 2011 Kootenay Conservation Crew was a success. The enthusiastic and committed crew worked safely throughout the field season, made the most of the many learning and training opportunities, had a lot of fun and were able to complete an outstanding amount of work from the 2011 work plan. The following report provides program sponsors and interested parties with a description of the crew’s learning and work activities over the past four months by project stream. Once again, a big thank you to all of the program partners and supporters for another successful year in the Kootenays! Sincerely, Julie Tyrrell Field Operations Coordinator- Kootenay Region The Nature Trust of British Columbia 205 Industrial Road G Cranbrook, BC V1C 7G5 Phone: 250-489-8521 Cell: 250-919-3050 Fax: 250-489-8506 Email: Julie.Tyrrell@gov.bc.ca

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2011 Year End Report

Table of Contents

Training and Professional Development in 2011 ................................................................................ - 4 -

TNT/MFLNRO Conservation Lands: 2011 Work Activities .................................................................. - 5 -

TNT Conservation Property Project Locations .................................................................................... - 8 -

Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO) -2011 Work Activities ....... - 9 -

Southern Rockies Grizzly Bear Monitoring Project: ................................................................... - 9 -

Rocky Mountain Trench Rangeland Assessment Project: ........................................................ - 10 -

2011 Funder Contributions ............................................................................................................... - 10 -

TNT Kootenay Conservation Crew Photos - 2011 ............................................................................. - 11 -

TNT Conservation Crew Media - 2011 .............................................................................................. - 13 -

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2011 Year End Report

Training and Professional Development in 2011

One important goal of the 2011 program was to provide crew members with the certifications required to work safely, while also providing a variety of learning opportunities and training to increase their employability within the environmental sector. Training and professional development in 2011 included; Powersaw Safety, Operation and Maintenance Course: This course was instructed by Joe Windels of Strategic Silviculture in Cranbrook. Instruction was

both theoretical and practical in scope, with a focus on safely using chainsaws and brush saws. A significant portion of the course dealt with troubleshooting and maintenance of powersaws. Course – 1 day in total.

S100 Wildlife Suppression Training and S185 Wildfire Entrapment Avoidance: This course was also taught by Joe Windels of Strategic Silviculture in Cranbrook. Ministry of

Forests and Range course material provided the crew with all of the knowledge and skills required to action wildfires they may come across or be called to in 2011. Course – 2 days in total.

Invasive weed identification and management seminar: This course was provided free of charge by both Chris Bosman, Weed Program Coordinator with

the Regional District of the East Kootenay and Marty Hafke, Program Coordinator with the East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council. This interpretive walk educated crew members on the invasive plants in the region and offered some ideas for weed management on TNT properties and MFLNRO Conservation Lands. Course - 0.5 day in total

South Rockies Grizzly Bear Monitoring Project: Crew members were involved in the project for several sessions throughout the summer in an

effort to monitor grizzly bear population trends in the South Rockies study area. Working closely with Ministry of Environment biologists and wildlife technicians, the crew learned a great deal of information concerning bear biology and the objectives and methodology of the study. Training was primarily provided on the job and varied amongst crew members.

Rocky Mountain Trench Rangeland Assessment Project: Crew members were involved in the project for several sessions throughout the summer to help

scientists and land managers better understand current forage production across the trench, monitor trends and characterize domestic livestock and wildlife habitat utilization within the study area. Working closely with Ministry of Environment technicians and contractors, the crew learned a great deal about grass and shrub identification, data collection and the objectives and methodology of the study. Training was primarily provided on the job and varied amongst crew members.

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2011 Year End Report

The Nature Trust of B.C./Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations-

Conservation Lands: 2011 Work Activities (In alphabetical order):

A major component of the 2011 field season consisted of work and special projects on many of the TNT and MFLNRO Conservation Properties within the Kootenay Region. Each of these properties has been acquired for their outstanding wildlife and biodiversity values. In order to ensure that the conservation values of these lands are upheld, regular operational and maintenance work to infrastructure is required, ecosystem enhancement and restoration activities are necessary and special projects arise. For several years, the TNT Kootenay Conservation Crew has played an important role in the management of these conservation lands by completing important ‘on the ground’ conservation efforts. The work activities in 2011 included; Big Ranch/ Musil/ Rankin (TNT) Replaced post and rail sections and installed 1- 16’ gate at Quonset hut entrance; re-stained. Maintained entire property fence line, repairing numerous breaks, replacing 1 top rail and 1 post

off Travis Rd. Removed drift fence line at N end of property and transported old posts and wire to the

Sparwood Transfer station. Cleared brush and stumps from fence line for construction of a new drift fence. Constructed roughly 250 m of drift fence which included building 5 braces and installing three

strands of barbed wire using wildlife friendly design to deter motorized trespass; Bill Hanlon volunteered assistance with pounding approx. 60 posts.

Constructed a new walkthrough Pulled and bagged stickseed and blueweed at the property entrance. 3 days x 4 crew, 1 day x 3 crew Bummers Flats North (TNT) Clipped vegetation exclosure cages established in 2009 to monitor grassland production; removed

sites as 3 consecutive years of data has been collected. 0.5 day x 2 crew

Bummers Flats - Mid and South (MFLNRO Conservation Lands) Sanded off graffiti and re-stained the 4’ x 8’ kiosk at the boat launch. Assessed recovery of seeded Quonset hut site (no further treatment required). 0.5 day x 3 crew

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2011 Year End Report

Bull River – O’Grady/Cunliffe Property (TNT) Completed a perimeter inspection (approx 5 km) of fence line – repaired several breaks, pounded

in 3 t-posts, built 2 new braces and removed fallen trees from the fence line. Installed one non-motorized sign. GPS’d fence line. Bucked and piled windfall on E side of property to promote grass production. Assessed success of Blueweed herbicide treatments in 2010. Installed 2 blueweed educational signs at south end of O’Grady property. Monitored blueweed population through photo plots and density analysis at 3 different transects-

installed one new transect. 3 days x 4 crew, 0.5 days x 4 crew Bull River – Red Barn Property (MFLNRO Conservation Lands) Mechanical removal of invasive plants- knapweed, blueweed and burdock -from riparian areas Released biocontrol for dalmation toadflax – mapped infestation, implemented photo monitoring

plots and installed a site marker. 1 day x 4 crew Cherry Creek (TNT) Replaced two rails on rail fence section of S. Cherry Creek property. Removed broken rail sections from cattle guard at S. Cherry Creek entrance. Replaced 2 rails on gated walkthrough at N end of Cherry Creek and stained 2 rail fences. Used brush saws to mechanically treat 0.5 hectares of Burdock, Stickseed and Canada thistle that

surround the irrigation pond at South Cherry- reseeded disturbed area with a native seed mixture. Installed non-motorized access and property boundary sign at south end gate bordering reserve. Pulled and removed approx. 5 bags of Spotted Knapweed and Stickseed along old rd. near

homestead. Inspected and repaired the perimeter fence line for both the North and South Cherry creek

parcels (approx. 11km) - built 2 new braces, pounded in 2 new posts, repaired several breaks and cleared numerous windfall trees.

1 day x 3 crew, 3 days x 4 crew, 0.5 day x 3 crew Columbia Lake West (TNT) Property inspection 0.5 day x 1 crew

Elizabeth Lake (MFLNRO Conservation Lands) Weed whipped the East parking lot. Swept out and re-stained the bird blind and pruned surrounding, overgrown shrubs. Picked up and removed 2 bags of garbage. Inspected and repaired approximately 400m of fence line on the East boundary- replaced 4 posts. Fixed page wire fence at the East parking lot Inspected “loafing’ logs installed during the 2009 operational season- observed Western painted

turtles using the logs. Inspected dock for removal. 1 day x 4 crew

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2011 Year End Report

Hoodoos-Hofert (TNT) Examined ecosystem restoration (ER) work completed by contractors at south end of Hoodoo

property- GPS’d area. Inspected slash burn area and pond project on the NE side of the property. Fixed 30 m break in fence line caused by motor vehicle on E side of Hawke Rd. at the Hoodoos-

replaced 7 posts and rebuilt 1 brace. Stained gate on W side of road and fixed 2 fallen rail sections. Cleared 2.1km stretch of line for fencing project on the SE side of the property. Assisted contractor with post pounding, brace construction and layout for fence construction. Installed 2 strands of barbed wire along 2.1km stretch of new fence line. Clean up of all construction site materials. Installed 2 signs regarding 2010 and 2011 ER work and partner contributions. Felled machine damaged trees in ER area on S end of property. Picked and bagged 5 large garbage bags of Spotted Knapweed along the southern portion of

Westside Road. Installed 2- 16’ gates on the SE side of Westside Road to prevent motorized trespass. Repainted cattle guard on Westside Road at North property boundary. Picked and bagged two garbage bags of stickseed from N end of property. Installed one Hoodoo trailhead sign at Hawke Rd. Built one rail section of fence up Hawke Rd. to deter motorized trespass. Stained 4 sections of rail fence. 7 days x 4 crew, 1 day x 2 crew Newgate (MFLNRO Conservation Lands) Walked perimeter fence line of property (approx. 11km), repairing several breaks. Took photos of washed out irrigation on creek and forwarded to resident and MFLNRO contact. 2 days x 4 crew

Silvertip Ranch (TNT) Hand-pulled, bagged and disposed of approximately 25 large garbage bags of Spotted Knapweed. 2 days x 2 crew Strauss (TNT) Assessed success of pulling Sulphur Cinquefoil in 2010. Retreated approx. 0.2 ha area infestation of Sulphur cinquefoil by digging. Reseeded disturbed area with a native plant mixture. 1 day x 3 crew Wolf Creek (MFLNRO Conservation Lands) Assessed re-growth of seeded area (no further treatment required). Pulled Canadian thistle, knapweed, and burdock at Wolf Creek property. Bagged and disposed of

at Wasa Transfer Station. 0.5 day x 4 crew Wycliffe (MFLNRO Conservation Lands) Inspected and repaired approx. 7.5 km of fence line, repairing several breaks and pounding in 2

posts on the N end of fence line. 1 day x 2 crew

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2011 Year End Report

TNT Conservation Property Project Locations

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2011 Year End Report

Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO) -

2011 Work Activities

Southern Rockies Grizzly Bear Monitoring Project: The 2011 field season marked the fifth year in which the Kootenay TNT crew assisted MFLNRO staff with the South Rockies Grizzly Bear Monitoring Project. Part of a five year study to monitor grizzly bear populations in the South Rockies and Flathead Valley, the crew assisted in the collection of Grizzly Bear hair samples from baited hair trap sites and opportunistically from natural ‘rub trees’ in the study area. Once samples have been collected, they are sent to a genetics lab for analysis in order to identify individuals and gain a better estimate of total numbers and the impacts that hunting and other human-caused mortality is having on populations. The data collected through this study will help wildlife and land managers make informed resource management decisions, thereby ensuring sustainable Grizzly Bear Populations within the study area for the long-term future. Work activities in 2011 included; Session 1 – June 27-July 1: Crew and MFLNRO staff met and discussed project objectives, sampling techniques and safety

procedures. Groceries, vehicles and equipment were prepared. Crew split into 4 separate teams to install bear hair trap sites in the Whiteswan-Lussier, Bull River,

Upper Elk and Flathead areas. During this period, approximately 20 bait sites were established and previously detected rub trees

were re-sampled and prepared for future sampling. 5 days x 4 crew

Session 2 - July 11- July 15: Crew and MFLNRO staff met to discuss project and make preparations. Crew split into 3 separate teams to survey and re-bait rub trees and bear hair trap sites

throughout the study area. Several new rub trees were found. 5 days x 4 crew Session 3 – July 25-29: Crew and MFLNRO staff met to discuss project and make preparations. Crew split into 3 separate teams to survey and remove bear hair trap sites and resample rubtrees. 5 days x 4 crew

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2011 Year End Report

Rocky Mountain Trench Rangeland Assessment Project: 2011 was the third year of this long-term project led by the MFLNRO. The project will assess current forage production across the trench and monitor trends in both plant species composition and range condition. Finally, the study also seeks to characterize domestic livestock and wildlife habitat utilization across the study area. It is anticipated that study data will assist land and wildlife managers in better understanding current rangeland health, carrying capacity and the causes of degradation within the Rocky Mountain Trench. Armed with this information, appropriate management objectives can be developed to ensure sustainable rangeland conditions are achieved in the trench for the future. During the 2011 field season, the crew assisted MFLNRO staff in collecting samples from exclosure cages located throughout the study area. Work activities included; TNT crew met with the Project Managers from MFLNRO, for an update on changes to

methodology for the 2011 field season and an identification training session. Crew members assisted MFLNRO staff and TNT Senior technician to clip exclosure cages,

separating biomass into grass, bunchgrass, and forbs for later analysis. Cages were relocated at each plot for 2012’s field monitoring.

Crews assisted in surveying approximately 100 plots in the Pickering Hills Range Management Unit, Rampart-Mayook Range Management Unit, and the Power Plant Range Management Unit.

Crew assisted ministry staff in data entry of plot species composition. 0.5 day x 4 crew, 8 days x 2 crew, 6 days x 1 crew

2011 Funder Contributions

Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation

35500

MFLNRO (Southern Rockies Grizzly Bear Monitoring)

15000

MFLNRO (Rangeland Assessment Project)

5500

Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program- Columbia Basin

10000

HSBC Bank

21000

Columbia Basin Trust (Environmental Initiatives Program)

6000

HRSDC

8461

BC Hydro

5000

Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund

17500

Total

$123961

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2011 Year End Report

TNT Kootenay Conservation Crew Photos - 2011

Re-staining the bird blind at Elizabeth Lake Signage installation at the Hoodoos

Katie and Eric catching up on the “Natural Legacy” TNT Kootenay and Okanagan Crews

Rangeland Assessment project training Chainsaw Safety and Maintenance training

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2011 Year End Report

Canadian Safety Council ATV training Hand-pulling invasive plants at Wolf Creek

Fence construction at the Hoodoos Katie pouring bait at a Grizzly Bear hair trap

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2011 Year End Report

TNT Conservation Crew Media - 2011

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2011 Year End Report

Job Well Done!

By The Nature Trust of BC

Acquiring conservation lands is only the first step in conserving them. Equally as important is

the ongoing management of these lands to maintain or restore habitat integrity. This is where

our HSBC Conservation Youth Crews come in. Each year we hire young people for the

summer to do much needed work on our properties and other conservation areas. Since May,

the crews have been working hard at controlling invasive species, conservation fence

building, maintaining trails, collecting baseline and monitoring data, engaging the local

communities and other important conservation activities.

Without the crews, many critical land management activities would simply not be feasible. In

addition to the important land management tasks that are accomplished by crews, they are

also an invaluable way to promote conservation values and skills amongst young people.

Youths who participate on conservation crews tend to contribute to greater environmental

awareness in society, through their enthusiasm in discussions with their peers and the broader

community. It’s also a fun job!

Crews are located in the Kootenays, Peace, Okanagan, Lower Mainland and on Vancouver

Island. Here’s what some crew members had to say about the program:

Okanagan crew with Burrowing owls being reintroduced to the wild

“After hearing a brief explanation of the position from a friend, I was extremely interested in

finding out more about what the job entailed. While reading over a few of the tasks that the

crew would be responsible for during the summer, I could not help but think that these were

the sort of activities that I would be doing in my spare time let alone for employment.

Furthermore, the fact that the posting was in my native South Okanagan only made the

opportunity sound sweeter, as it would be a chance for me to greatly further my knowledge of

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2011 Year End Report

the ecology and biology found in the area that I am most familiar with.” – Okanagan HSBC

Conservation Youth Crew member Rajiv Dasanjh

Vancouver Island crew member, Clayton Billett, with a pile of Japanese Knotweed (an

invasive plant species)

“There are many skills I have gained or improved over the course of the summer including

GPS mapping, identifying different types of plant, bird and animal species, which plants are

invasive to Vancouver Island, and various removal practices and the steps of land

management used in conservation areas. I have also learned how much of Vancouver Island is

protected by conservation lands and how important these are to saving biodiversity for

generations to come.” – Vancouver Island HSBC Conservation Youth Crew member Clayton

Billett

Kootenay crew member, Eric Spilker, vegetation monitoring

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2011 Year End Report

“I feel that almost everyday I do something that contributes to the local community. For the

tourists and residents of the Kootenays, Nature Trust properties offer an opportunity to be

able to hike or ride a horse through well protected conservation lands. In a region that is

seeing so much development and easier access to the backcountry through motorized

transportation, this is a rare and wonderful opportunity.” – Kootenay HSBC Conservation

Youth Crew member Eric Spilker

Lower Mainland crew member, Shannon Lawrence, controlling invasive plant species

“The local communities are the first people to benefit from conservation work because it is in

their backyard. Once at Chilliwack River we were putting up a sign but found a lot of garbage

in the area. There happened to be some locals enjoying the spot and they said that the garbage

was all from the night before. When we started cleaning up the garbage, everyone started

helping us so we had an impromptu community garbage cleanup!” – Lower Mainland HSBC

Conservation Youth Crew leader Shannon Lawrence

Thanks to our crews for all your hard work this year! Job well done!

And a BIG Thank You to the crew program sponsors:

Title Sponsor

HSBC Bank Canada

Sponsors

BC Hydro

BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

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2011 Year End Report

Columbia Basin Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program

Comox Valley Regional District

Ducks Unlimited Canada

Fortis BC

Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation

HRSDC

The Tony Cartledge Fund