2006 East Kootenay Conservation Property Operation and Maintenance Project

Transcription

1 2006 East Kootenay Conservation Property Operation and Maintenance Project All photos provided by TNT Prepared by: The Nature Trust of BC For Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program March 2007

2 Project Dates: May 8, 2006 October 12, 2006 Total Project Costs: $ 174,951 Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) Contribution: $ 10, Activity Summary One operation and maintenance (O&M) crew, based out of the Ministry of Environment (MoE) compound in Cranbrook, was engaged throughout the 2006 field season in a variety of predetermined operations and maintenance projects on 20 individual or complexes of conservation properties in the East Kootenay Region. Supervision of the crew was provided by Rob Neil, The Nature Trust s (TNT) Conservation Land Manager in Cranbrook and Chris Bosman the crew foreman. Prior to the hiring of crew personnel and commencement of habitat restoration, enhancement, protection and maintenance projects on the properties, a detailed work plan and schedule was prepared by TNT with assistance from FWCP (Larry Ingham and Dave Lewis) and Chris Bosman. Additional project related requests from MoE s Environmental Stewardship Division staff were received throughout the field season and incorporated in the work plan schedule. All crew members received fundamental skill training in First Aid, Fire Suppression, Power Tool Operation, Maintenance and Safety and WorkSafeBC safety requirements. Science based workshops in grassland inventory and monitoring techniques and forest ecology were provided to the crews as part of the on-site skill enhancement component of the 2006 operations and maintenance program. Fence repair and construction techniques were also reviewed on the work site. Specific activities conducted on the 20 conservation sites included: slashing unburned, immature coniferous growth after the implementation of a prescribed burn re-construction and repair of property fences construction of pedestrian access entrances (walk-through) at designated locations removal of invasive weeds installation of recreational vehicle control structures removal of discarded mill site debris and redundant fencing material installation of conservation property boundary signs and information kiosks slashing to address forest encroachment problems slashing winter snow damaged aspen stands seeding to rehabilitate degraded sites fence perimeter inspections GPS weed locations slashing along fence lines and roads where required. Approximately 25 km of perimeter fencing was inspected, repaired and droppers installed as required. Approximately 3.5 km of new fence was constructed on the Big Ranch/Musil Property and 1.5 kilometers of new fence was installed on a Wycliffe Prairie conservation property Large 4 x 8 information kiosks were installed at Cherry Creek, Big Ranch and the Duncan conservation properties. For further information regarding project work conducted on East Kootenay conservation properties, refer to the 2006 Work Plan included in this report. Approximately 75% of this work was completed. Outstanding work required will be reflected in the 2007 Conservation Property Work Plan.

3 2006 EAST KOOTENAY CONSERVATION PROPERTY WORK PLAN Bergenham Property MoE Big Ranch/Musil/Rankin Property TNT General fence maintenance/repair (approximately 10 k) New fence construction (3.5 k) remainder of Big Ranch and south boundary of the Musil Estate (involves contractor for post pounding) Repair and top rail (1 k) Travis Road fence line Repair and top rail (.5 j) fence south of Big Ranch Quonset hut Stain rail fence at Quonset hut public entrance Install walk-throughs, wire gates and horse entrances at appropriate locations When logging is completed, extend rail fence on either side of gate at north end of property Sign maintenance/installation (one 4x8 at the Big Ranch and two 4x4 on the Musil and Rankin properties) Removal of abandoned sawmill equipment Highway fence (west side of Musil property) remove top strand (2 k) make a three strand fence Weed inventory and removal (.5 ha) Buck and pile slash (1 ha) in 2005 logged area (Rob Neil to assess prior to work) Buck and pile (2 ha) Aspen in south Big Ranch field (from Sept. 10 th snowfall) Buck and pile Aspen wind-fall at Quonset hut public entrance Remove old vehicles on Musil property Construct hitching posts at entrance to the Big Ranch Brisco/Spillimacheen/Harrogate/RCMP Flats - TNT Joint review in late June/early July Wrap cottonwood trees on north side of bridge Inspect/conduct inventory Bummers Flats North - TNT Noxious weed removal (.5 ha) and GPS map locations of infestation Fence maintenance and construction (4 k) Install boundary signs on south fence Ecosystem restoration habitat protection, seeding, slashing GPS Wood duck houses and repair if required Inventory condition of wildlife trees Bummers Flats- Mid and South - MoE Bull River - TNT General fence/gate maintenance (5 k) Slash RoW around fence line (1.5 k) on the north section of TNT property (a new fence is required for 2007) Sign maintenance and installation (change boundary sign to conservation property as required) Noxious weed control and GPS locations Slash (1 ha) south aspect of TNT property, space on bench (site and prescription to be determined on site by Rob Neil and Rob Williams) Fence/gate maintenance and removal of some cross fences Conduct a reconnaissance of TNT property for weeds and remove if located Repair fences as required

4 Bull River - MoE General fence/gate maintenance Sign maintenance and installation as required Noxious weed control and GPS locations Cherry Creek - TNT Repair and lock-up old building in hay field - co-ordinate with Larry Ingham and Dave Lewis - rational Townsend s Big-eared Bat maternity and roosting site Noxious weed removal particular attention to the pond area (1.5 ha) and road (.5 k) above old home site Slashing and thinning north end of property Fencing inspect and repair (12 k) as required Signage install two 4x4 information signs at both entrances to the north Cherry property (non-motorized vehicle info) Stain rail fence and kiosks at public entrances Buck and pile slash inside wildlife tree reserves (2.5 ha) (Site to be inspected by Rob Neil and Rob Williams prior to work activity) Slashing and piling in pre-designated sites within the 2006 prescribed burn area. Columbia Lake East -TNT Noxious weed control Sign maintenance Inspect for noxious weeds Monitor vehicle use GPS boundary Install boundary signs at appropriate locations (sign on Lee Master s property) Inventory and document unique habitat values and GPS (i.e. springs, tufa) Inventory and GPS roads and landings and document locations where rehabilitation is feasible Columbia Lake West -TNT Weed inventory and removal (.5 ha) Inspect and repair drift fencing (7 k) Install boundary signs and rough road signs at appropriate locations Install 4x8 information sign at kiosk site Construct wire gates at cattle guards and BC Hydro RoW crossings Install droppers along the new (2005) fence as required Columbia Lake South End WMA - MoE Fence inventory and document required repairs Install information and boundary signs as required Columbia Wetlands WMA - MoE East Columbia Lake WMA - MoE Elizabeth Lake - MoE Harrogate - TNT Inspect/conduct inventory Hoodoo - TNT Noxious weed removal (1.5 ha) and GPS locations Fence maintenance and repair (8 k) as required Complete fence construction along west side of Highway Remove old wire and posts along west side of Highway Repair top fence at cattle guard (8 k area Brewer Creek)

5 From the north end of the property to Hawk Road tighten fence (4 k), top rail at high movement/crossing sites and remove top barbed wire. Re-set wire at 44 top and 14 to 16 bottom specifications. Sign installation/maintenance re-stain kiosks and information signs Install new Viewpoint Trail sign across from Hawk Road Conduct site rehabilitation activities (seeding) Remove no trespassing signs Slashing to address forest encroachment use management plan as a guide but select south aspects as a priority (sites to be determined by Rob Neil and Rob Williams prior to work activity) South parking lot improvement project (to be determined by Rob Neil and Rob Williams prior to work activity) Newgate - MoE Rankin - TNT Noxious weed removal Install property information sign Sheep Mountain TNT& MoE Inspect and repair fences as required Inventory signs Noxious weed removal Strauss - TNT Noxious weed removal Inspect perimeter fence & repair as required Sign maintenance (check for vandalism and replace) Install boundary signage at appropriate locations Three Sons - MoE Wasa Sloughs-Cameron Lake - TNT Noxious weed removal (1.5 ha) Map location and area of noxious weeds (May/June) Sign maintenance Construct new fence after property boundary survey Repair fence (1.5 k) as required Install boundary signage at appropriate locations Wasa Sloughs-South - MoE Noxious weed control on dyke Wilmer Wildlife Area - CWS Fence inspection, repair and dropper installation where required Wolf Creek - MoE Noxious weed removal on dykes Inspect and repair fencing where required

6 Crew installing a rail fence and walkway to protect the Spur Lake foreshore from unauthorized and debilitating motorized recreational activity Completed project

7 Weed control on the Cherry Creek property Crew preparing for a thinning and slashing project on the Bull River Property

8 Crew slashing after the prescribed burn on the upper benches of the Cherry Creek property Slashing crew