Invasive Plant Information
Photo credit: Larry Reid
Monthly Invasive Plant Removal Events
We have removed ivy, laurel, blackberry, knotweed and other invasive plants from the riparian zones of Malcolm Creek in the past year. In November 2020 we started to work on the riparian areas of Robert Creek near the Lower Road bridge and in the spring of 2021 we added Chapman Creek to our list!
Roberts Creek Riparian Zone
We host an invasive plant removal event on the last Saturday of every month in Roberts Creek. We plan to be at a new location in March. We will be meeting at the bridge beside the mandala/pier. You will find us if you walk over to the bridge on Roberts Creek Rd.
Chapman Creek Riparian Zone
We meet on the 2nd Saturday of every month at Brookman Park, beside Chapman Creek to remove the ivy from the riparian zone. If you would like to join us, please meet us in the parking lot on the west side of the Hwy 101 bridge as you come into Davis Bay.
Charmin Creek Riparian Zone
We have a keen group of volunteers that have started working on the Charman Creek riparian zone in Gibsons. We will hosting events in the coming months to remove invasive plants from the creek area and to restore the riparian zone starting at the estuary. If you would like to join us, please send an email to scstreamkeepers@gmail.com
We are fortunate that we have been awarded 2 grants of $450.00 from Pacific Salmon Foundation and a grant from SCRD for $1,200.00 to purchase native plants to rehabilitate the riparian zones where we remove the invasive plants. We are grateful to Pacific Salmon Foundation and SCRD for there support as we work to restore salmon habitat!
Monthly Invasive Plant Removal Events
Here’s a quick overview of our upcoming events:
| Location | Details | Next Event | Facebook Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roberts Creek at the estuary | Last Saturday of every month. | March 26, 2022 @ 11 am – 1 pm | Event details |
| CHAPMAN CREEK (Brookman Park) | Second Saturday of every month | April 9, 2022 @ 11 am – 1 pm |
For more information, visit our Upcoming Events page.
If you have any questions, please send an email to scstreamkeepers@gmail.com
HUGE thank you to the Town of Sechelt Parks Dept for picking up our big pile of ivy and other invasive plants and taking it all to the Green Waste Depot! This really helps!
Sunshine Coast Streamkeeper Society Knotweed Removal Protocol
Please see article below for more information on the Henderson Beach (Roberts Creek, BC) project.
Although SCSS are not officially removing knotweed. The following is a recommended alternative to remove knotweed without chemicals. As our primary goal is to protect wild salmon and their habitat, we are totally against Round Up or any product that contains the herbicide glyphosate as the high possibility of it entering the water system on the Sunshine Coast.
Alternate Knotweed Removal Protocol
Equipment Needed:
Large plastic bag, either black or clear
Sharp clippers
- Cut each stalk of knotweed at ground. Try not to disturb the roots.
- Carefully put the cut stalk into plastic bag (making sure not to drop any piece.) Each stalk has many nodes that are very prolific and spread easily.
- It is helpful to put some kind of marker where each stalk was removed, we use a piece of coloured tape inserted by a nail into ground. This will help to identify the correct spot when returning.
- The cut stalk will start to grow again, it is important to continue to cut these small shoots every 2 weeks. Each time the sprouts are cut, make sure to add to a plastic bag.
- Put the plastic bag in a sunny place so that it dies and eventually dries out. At the end of season, it is important to burn the dried remains of these cut stalks. They should never be put in a public green waste collection site.
- The growing season of knotweed is May until October.
- It can take multiple years to totally eradicate the knotweed stand without harmful chemicals. Chemical spray can also take multiple applications and often does not totally eradicate the knotweed. The pilot project at Henderson Beach in Roberts Creek shows it can definitely be done without chemicals.
Sunshine Coast Streamkeepers Society 