is the Cree word for beautiful

is the Cree word for beautiful

Created in 1979 by an Act of the Province

Meewasin is a conservation organization dedicated to conserving the cultural and natural resources of the South Saskatchewan River Valley.

the means by which the 3 participating parties have chosen to manage the Meewasin Valley.

Planning Principles Valley resources accessible to everyone; Recreation and development balanced with resource conservation; Opportunity for diverse activities for a variety of interests; Natural and heritage resources should be preserved; Public ownership in the decision making.

Meewasin s Jurisdiction

Meewasin is centred in Saskatoon and runs approximately 60 km along the river valley from Pike Lake in the southwest to Clarke s Crossing in the northeast.

Conservation Zone Including the river, Meewasin s Conservation Zone is 25 square miles

Meewasin Mandates To conserve To develop To educate

RESOURCE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT

Meewasin Sheep Grazing Program

Jared & Katie

Meewasin Valley Restoration Activities: Bluegrass, Burning, and Buckthorn

Shrub cover more than doubled from 7% to 19% over a ten year period at Saskatoon Natural Grasslands

Herbaceous Species Herbaceous Species % Actual Cover % Actual Cover thread leaved sedge 2.30 western wheatgrass 0.18 beautiful sunflower 1.48 northern wheatgrass 0.14 scarlet gaura 0.98 blue grama 0.13 needle & thread 0.91 false flowered dandelion 0.10 blunt sedge 0.80 sun loving sedge 0.07 prairie muhly 0.70 june grass 0.04 skeleton weed 0.43 Kentucky blue grass 0.03 low goldenrod 0.40 sedge sp. 0.03 blue lettuce 0.30 yarrow 0.03 sand grass 0.30 low sedge 0.01 plains reed grass 0.25 pasture sage 0.00 northern bedstraw 0.23 western porcupine grass 0.00 rough fescue 0.23 Average Herb 10.00

Late fall spraying patch after one growing season.

Snow guards

*1-2 acres per person hour of effort

Why control buckthorn? Dr. Vernon Harms stated The rapid loss of our woodlands by European Buckthorn may represent a more serious and imminent threat to Saskatoon s natural areas than do such media-publicized possible threats as Purple Loosestrife or Dutch Elm Disease.

Saskatchewan is revising noxious weed act Prohibited weeds that are not established (absent or rare) in Saskatchewan, but pose significant potential to establish here and cause negative impacts. Noxious, weeds that are present in Saskatchewan in isolated areas (not widespread), but are predicted to spread further. Nuisance, weeds that are widespread, but move easily between properties resulting in disputes between neighbours.

European or common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) has become naturalized in many parts of eastern and central North America.

Saskatchewan Distribution Only at Saskatoon and Estevan were plants noted as very numerous. Also noted in Brandon, MB. Earliest record for Saskatoon dated 1923, prior to formal shelterbelt trials at Forestry Farm in 1930 s.

Saskatoon Region Distribution Buckthorn has spread along the South Saskatchewan River Valley. It is now found 56 km north and 21 km south from the original site of introduction.

How does it spread? The species is dioecious with male and female flowers borne on separate plants. Fruit production is prolific and begins at about 6 years.

How does it spread? Birds, primarily waxwings, are the main vector for seed spread. Their migrations to the city are irruptive and can be spectacular with flocks numbering in the thousands. They visit in the late winter season.

TREATMENT COSTS Cost estimates based on a wide range of field and labour conditions. Labour valued at $30 per hour. Average labour cost was ~$0.15 per stem. Chemical cost for Garlon 4 was ~$.01 per stem.

Treat in the late fall or early winter Foliage or berries more visible Better seasonal field staff labour pool Good production with good working temps & prior to heavy snow

Avoid moisture on the stems or temperatures colder than -10 C.

What is Meewasin doing? Buckthorn was recorded at 239 quarter sections around Saskatoon. Started in 1998 and will have treated each site 3 times by 2020. 600,000 stems treated to date Projected to be > 1 million by 2020

What is Meewasin doing? Our experience has shown that for an initial treatment of a site with 100 seed bearing stems that there will be an additional 89 stems to treat at that site five years later. An additional 160 stems can be expected five years after that. A miss rate of about 20% during the initial treatment was recorded. It is prudent to revisit a treatment site a year or two later to catch these misses.

What is Meewasin doing? After the initial double pass treatment, a return interval of 5 years appears reasonable. Casual observation suggests a 10 year interval results in substantial seedling spread.

Where to start? The best strategy is to start at sites where the densities are low and the plant is not entrenched. If the ground layer is dominated by buckthorn seedlings then consider the site entrenched and be prepared for a long fight.

The Saskatchewan Invasive Species Council is applying for funding to better map the buckthorn population at Saskatoon. The city of Saskatoon is treating buckthorn at the Forestry Farm where it was first introduced and also at the former site of the Sanitorium Hospital. What next?