Coquitlam River Riparian Planting Year Four Year Four Report, March 2016 Prepared for: Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program Prepared by: Watershed Watch Salmon Society and the Kwikwetlem First Nation by Project Biologist Tanis Gower, RPBio, Fernhill Consulting Prepared with the financial support of the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program on behalf of its program partners BC Hydro, the Province of BC, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations and public stakeholders March 2016 FWCP Project No. 16.W.COQ.01
Acknowledgements This Project is funded by the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP). The FWCP is a partnership between BC Hydro, the Province of B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations and public stakeholders to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife impacted by the construction of BC Hydro dams. Metro Vancouver has provided ongoing support to this project. New this year was involvement from Stewardship Technician Brian Titaro, who brought in youth volunteers to maintain the site and who will continue to facilitate volunteer maintenance in future. Watershed Watch and the Kwikwetlem First Nation wish to thank these volunteers as well as Metro Vancouver for their ongoing efforts. Cover photo of volunteers provided by Brian Titaro. Coquitlam Riparian Planting Year Four, March 2016 i
Table of Contents Acknowledgements... i Table of Contents...ii Table of Figures...ii Executive Summary... iii 1. Introduction and Background... 1 2. Goals and Objectives... 1 3. Study Area... 2 4. Methods... 4 5. Results and Outcomes... 5 6. Discussion... 8 Appendix I. Final Statement of Accounts... 9 Table of Figures Figure 1: Partial City of Coquitlam Parks Map showing the project location... 2 Figure 2: The project areas at the Sheep Paddocks (top photo showing planting area 1, bottom photo showing planting areas 2-5). Green-outlined areas 1, 2 and 5 were mown (spring) and hand trimmed (fall), and some locations within areas 3 and 4 were also treated by hand. Areas a and b were not treated.... 3 Figure 3: volunteers out to do maintenance on July 18, 2015. Photo supplied by Brian Titaro, Metro Vancouver.... 4 Figure 4: Excellent growth within planting area 1... 5 Figure 5: an example of rose and salmonberry shrubs spreading through the site... 6 Figure 6: an example of damage from power tools, which are no longer recommended for this site... 6 Figure 7: a tidal channel adjacent to planting area 2, showing the dense vegetation including native wetland plants... 7 Figure 8: infill planting area a, showing planted conifers and naturally established alders. Grass is covering the beaver fencing. This area is transitioning to a forested state as intended.... 7 Coquitlam Riparian Planting Year Four, March 2016 ii
Executive Summary In 2012, riparian planting was carried out at two areas alongside constructed off-channel fish habitat on the Coquitlam River. A total of 735 m 2 of riparian habitat (areas with existing trees and shrubs) was improved and another 5,700 m 2 of new riparian forest was created. The majority of this work was carried out at the Sheep Paddocks site at Colony Farm Park. A small site in the Coquitlam River Park (The Oxbow) was also included. Funding for this work and for maintenance in 2013 was provided by the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP). This work is in alignment with the FWCP Action Plan for the Coquitlam/Buntzen Watershed (FWCP 2011). In 2013, the plantings at the Sheep Paddocks were maintained through regular watering during the dry months. The site was also mown in June and September. The Oxbow site had additional shrubs and trees planted but was not irrigated. In 2014, our application for funding from the FWCP funding was not successful, and the Kwikwetlem First Nation provided funding and a crew to do mowing and trimming of the grass around the Sheep Paddocks plantings in the fall. In 2015 the project involved two maintenance sessions to trim the competing grass, in spring and late summer. A volunteer crew also came into the site to do blackberry removal and grass trimming in July and December. The original goal of this project was to convert disused agricultural fields (the Sheep Paddocks at Colony Farm Park) and part of a disturbed, un-vegetated site (the Oxbow at Coquitlam River Park) into thriving native, riparian vegetation, to the benefit of fish and wildlife. This included a total of 6,435 m 2 at Colony Farm (Sheep Paddocks).This goal is well on its way to being achieved. The goal of year four was to maintain the planted vegetation at the Sheep Paddocks location. This goal has been achieved. The site is now at a stage where Watershed Watch and Kwikwetlem First Nation will cease formal maintenance activity, and volunteers will take over maintenance at the site. Coquitlam Riparian Planting Year Four, March 2016 iii
1. Introduction and Background In the fall of 2012, trees, shrubs and wetland plants were installed to improve shade, habitat complexity (including large woody debris provision) and terrestrial food matter and nutrients for the salmon species that use these habitats (Gower 2012). This work was done in alignment with the FWCP strategic action plan for the Coquitlam Watershed (FWCP 2011). Specifically, this work addressed sub-objective 3: restore degraded or create new riparian and wetland habitat. A total of 735 m 2 of riparian habitat (areas with existing trees and shrubs) was improved and another 5,700 m 2 of new riparian forest was created. This involved the planting of 320 trees, 1,100 shrubs and 1,500 wetland plants. The majority of this work was carried out at the Sheep Paddocks site at Colony Farm Park. A small site in the Coquitlam River Park (the Oxbow) was also included. In 2013, the planted trees and shrubs at the Sheep Paddocks location were maintained through weekly watering in the dry months of summer. In addition, more plants were installed at the oxbow location, and mowing of grass and other weeds was completed at the Sheep Paddocks location (Gower 2013). In 2014, FWCP funding was not received. The Kwikwetlem First Nation used their own funds and purchased and rented equipment to mow and clip canary grass at the Sheep Paddocks site during one session in the fall. While irrigation had been proposed, it was not carried out due to its expense. Instead, the site was monitored to determine if emergency watering would be required to keep the plants alive through the drought of 2014. Fortunately, survival was high. In this project year (2015), mowing was carried out at the Sheep Paddocks site in April and September. As it was a dry and hot summer season, irrigation was considered but was ultimately not required. Work at the Oxbow site ceased after 2013. While the area had been affected by vandals and beaver activity, it has grown in very well and does not require further maintenance. This project brings these areas closer to a natural condition and will provide more varied and valuable wildlife habitat as well as providing important riparian functions. 2. Goals and Objectives The original goal of this project was to convert disused agricultural fields (the Sheep Paddocks at Colony Farm Park) and part of a disturbed, un-vegetated site (the Oxbow at Coquitlam River Park) into thriving native, riparian vegetation, to the benefit of fish and wildlife. The goal of the 2015 work was trim grasses to allow the planted trees and shrubs to continue to compete. The project objective was mowing/clipping of reed canary grass and other grasses in spring and again in late summer. The spring work was to curb grass growth through the Coquitlam Riparian Planting Year Four, March 2016 1
summer and the fall work was to trim the grass regrowth and clear around the trees and shrubs before the winter season. 3. Study Area The Sheep Paddocks site at Colony Farm Park is an off-channel fish habitat project that was completed with BC Hydro Bridge Coastal Restoration Program funding in 2004 and 2008. This area was planted with 320 trees, 1,126 shrubs and 1,500 wetland plants in 2012, with FWCP funding. Figure 1: Partial City of Coquitlam Parks Map showing the project location Coquitlam Riparian Planting Year Four, March 2016 2
Figure 2: The project areas at the Sheep Paddocks (top photo showing planting area 1, bottom photo showing planting areas 2-5). Green-outlined areas 1, 2 and 5 were mown (spring) and hand trimmed (fall), and some locations within areas 3 and 4 were also treated by hand. Areas a and b were not treated. Coquitlam Riparian Planting Year Four, March 2016 3
4. Methods Site inspections were done by the project biologist on March 28, July 13 and October 10, 2015, and the site was also checked at various times by a Kwikwetlem First Nation member. Mowing using gas-powered weed whackers was done on April 22-24. Hand trimming was done on September 4-6. These dates were timed to be during the growing season, but to also avoid bird nesting season (May July) as well as to avoid drying the ground by removing shading grass during the hottest time of year. Colony Farm Park Association volunteers expressed interest in helping steward the site, under the guidance of Metro Vancouver Stewardship Technician Brian Titaro. This was timely as the site will need less intensive maintenance in future but would still greatly benefit from stewards who will monitor and address grass competition as well as check on beaver fencing and remove blackberry canes. A group of approximately 35 youth spent a day on July 18 th trimming some blackberry within the site as well as trimming grass around plantings. The group returned for another day of work on December 13 th. Various communications were promised for this project: a media release is drafted and will go to regional newspaper(s) the week of August 22, 2016. A website update will be done at the same time, and partner updates are in progress. Figure 3: volunteers out to do maintenance on July 18, 2015. Photo supplied by Brian Titaro, Metro Vancouver. Coquitlam Riparian Planting Year Four, March 2016 4
5. Results and Outcomes As per the original project goals, 6,435 m 2 of riparian habitat was created/enhanced at Colony Farm. The project continues to be successful. Most plants installed in 2012 have survived despite some beaver grazing and two dry summers without irrigation including the summer of 2015 which was exceptionally warm and dry. Growth is excellent see Figure 4. Many rose and salmonberry bushes are spreading through the site see Figure 5. Cottonwoods in area 5 that were cut by beaver have vigorously resprouted. There has been some damage from the mowing, to both trees and shrubs see Figure 6. Given this issue and also given the increased coverage of shrubs, hand tools are all that should be used in future maintenance (hand tools were used in the last maintenance in September.) Areas 3 and 4 have more sparse plantings including some that have not survived. Increased plantings and associated maintenance could be a project for a stewardship group to take on as interest and funding allows. The tidal channels are surrounded by native wetland vegetation as well as reed canary grass. There were 1,500 plants installed along the shoreline in 2012. There has been no effort to monitor the survival and growth of the wetland plants. However the tidal shoreline is very well vegetated see Figure 7. Areas a and b were already fenced and planted at the start of the project. There were additional trees installed in 2012. Further maintenance has been minimal. These areas are transitioning into being dominated by trees and shrubs see Figure 8 which is the desired outcome for these areas and the site as a whole. Figure 4: Excellent growth within planting area 1 Coquitlam Riparian Planting Year Four, March 2016 5
Figure 5: an example of rose and salmonberry shrubs spreading through the site Figure 6: an example of damage from power tools, which are no longer recommended for this site Coquitlam Riparian Planting Year Four, March 2016 6
Figure 7: a tidal channel adjacent to planting area 2, showing the dense vegetation including native wetland plants Figure 8: infill planting area a, showing planted conifers and naturally established alders. Grass is covering the beaver fencing. This area is transitioning to a forested state as intended. Coquitlam Riparian Planting Year Four, March 2016 7
6. Discussion Beavers are very active on this site. Beavers immediately grazed on cottonwoods that were planted with inadequate fencing in 2012. Beavers were successfully kept out of the site until 2015, when they gained entry into two of the three main planting areas. This appeared to be due to tampering with the makeshift gates. The gates were repaired in March 2015 and beavers are again excluded from the sites, with no further damage noted. There were some losses of salmonberry in area 2, which may be due to beavers. In addition, all cottonwoods and one spruce in area 5 were cut down. Fortunately, all the cottonwoods in area 5 have vigorously re-sprouted. Alder is volunteering along the margins of the tidal channels as well as in infill planting areas a and b. Some alder along the channels has been grazed by beaver. The vegetation at the site is mostly competing well with the grasses surrounding it. Watershed Watch and the Kwikwetlem First Nation are pleased to complete this project with the knowledge that the Colony Farm Park Association volunteers will continue to monitor the site and address competing vegetation, including invasive blackberry. This group will also monitor the beaver fences. There is some opportunity for additional work on the site by interested volunteers. This could include better fencing on certain cottonwood trees that have survived beaver grazing. It could also include further tree planting in areas 3 and 4. However, the monitoring of beaver activity and beaver fences, and trimming grass around established plantings continue to be the most important volunteer activities. References Gower, T. 2012. Coquitlam River Riparian Planting: Year One Final Report November 2012. Prepared by Fernhill Consulting for Watershed Watch Salmon Society and the Kwikwetlem First Nation. Gower, T. 2013. Coquitlam River Riparian Planting: Year Two. Prepared by Fernhill Consulting for Watershed Watch Salmon Society and the Kwikwetlem First Nation. Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program. 2011. Coquitlam/Buntzen Watershed: Riparian and Wetlands Action Plan. Final Draft, October 2011. BC Hydro and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Coquitlam Riparian Planting Year Four, March 2016 8
Appendix I. Final Statement of Accounts (submitted as a separate file ) Coquitlam Riparian Planting Year Four, March 2016 9